Epidemiology

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Allergies are associated with reduced pancreas cancer risk: A population-based case–control study in Ontario, Canada

  1. Ayelet Eppel1,†,*,
  2. Michelle Cotterchio2,3,
  3. Steven Gallinger1,4

Article first published online: 20 JUN 2007

DOI: 10.1002/ijc.22884

Issue

International Journal of Cancer

International Journal of Cancer

Volume 121, Issue 10, pages 2241–2245, 15 November 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Eppel, A., Cotterchio, M. and Gallinger, S. (2007), Allergies are associated with reduced pancreas cancer risk: A population-based case–control study in Ontario, Canada. Int. J. Cancer, 121: 2241–2245. doi: 10.1002/ijc.22884

Author Information

  1. 1

    Familial Gastrointestinal Cancer Registry, Digestive Diseases Clinical Research Centre, Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Centre, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  2. 2

    Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  3. 3

    Division of Preventive Oncology, Cancer Care Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  4. 4

    Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  1. †

    Fax: 416-586-8214

*Mount Sinai Hospital, Digestive Diseases Clinical Research Centre, Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Centre, 60 Murray Street, Box 24, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3L9, Canada

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 SEP 2007
  2. Article first published online: 20 JUN 2007
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 27 APR 2007
  4. Manuscript Received: 28 FEB 2007

Funded by

  • National Institutes of Health. Grant Number: R01 CA97075, as part of the PACGENE consortium
  • The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research and the Ontario Cancer Research Network
  • US National Cancer Institute, NIH (RFA#CA-95-011. Grant Number: U01-CA74783

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Keywords:

  • allergy and immunology;
  • asthma;
  • case–control studies;
  • hypersensitivity;
  • pancreatic neoplasms

Abstract

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is one of the deadliest cancers with mortality rates almost equaling incidence rates. Each year, approximately 3,500 Canadians are diagnosed with this disease. Although somewhat inconsistent, epidemiological studies have found that allergies are associated with a reduced pancreas cancer risk while there appears to be no association with asthma. These associations were evaluated in a population-based case–control study conducted in Ontario. Incident cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, identified through the Ontario Cancer Registry (OCR), and diagnosed April 1, 2003 to June 1, 2006, were recruited by the Ontario Pancreas Cancer Study (OPCS). Controls were recruited from the Ontario Familial Colorectal Cancer Registry (OFCCR). Data on 276 cases and 378 controls were available for the current study. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to obtain age-adjusted odds ratio (AOR) estimates. Ever having allergies or hayfever was associated with reduced pancreas cancer risk (OR = 0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.29–0.63). There was no association observed between a history of asthma and pancreas cancer risk. Findings are of great importance to understanding the biological mechanisms involved in pancreas cancer development. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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