8/9/2019 Association of ABO Blood Group and Risk of Breast Cancer

1/2

Association of ABO Blood Group and Risk of Breast Cancer

Previous researches have associated the ABO blood group to certain cancers such as

 pancreatic and gastric cancer. Since blood group antigens are present on the surface of Red

Blood Cells and some epithelial cells, alterations on these are then associated with cancer. In

older studies, blood group A was associated with increased ris of stomach cancer. Some lined

A and O blood t!pes to increased incidence of duodenal ulcers and gastric carcinoma. Blood t!pe

B was also lined to pancreatic cancer, "odgin l!mphoma, and cardiac cancer. #here have been

studies reporting the relation between blood t!pes and breast cancer incidence and prognosis.

"owever other studies have not !et found an! relation between susceptibilit! to breast cancer.

#he association between blood group antigen e$pression and prognostic factors among breast

cancer patients has been suggested b! previous studies. #he A antigen was associated with

increased ris of developing invasive ductal carcinoma in %ree women. "owever, the evidence

of an association between blood t!pe and breast cancer is inconsistent as some studies found no

association between blood group and breast cancer ris. Because of this, the proponents of the

research have chosen to stud! the relationship of ABO blood group to cancer. Blood samples

were collected from &'( women with breast cancer. )* health! persons served as the control

group. In the result of the stud!, a higher fre+uenc! of breast cancer patients have blood t!pe A

while a lower fre+uenc! on AB blood t!pe. #he stud! showed that the presence of Aantigen is

related to the ris of developing breast cancer.

As earlier mentioned, Blood group antigens are e$pressed on the surface of red blood

cells and malignant breast ductal cells. Alterations in the e$pression of ABO antigens on the

surface of malignant cells have been seen for a variet! of tumors, including breast cancer. Blood

group A has been said to increase resistance to apoptosis. "ence it facilitates escape from the

immune s!stem. In addition, modified e$pression of blood group antigens on the surface of 

cancer cells ma! also alter cell motilit! with important implications for malignant progression.

Studies have also reported that blood group A ma! influence the s!stemic inflammator! response

as the! found associations between the genot!pe of the A blood group antigen and circulating

levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule. #he conclusion of the stud! is that the people

with blood t!pe A ma! have a higher ris of developing breast cancer than other blood groups

among patients.

8/9/2019 Association of ABO Blood Group and Risk of Breast Cancer

2/2

#his stud! is of great help in the advances of oncolog!. Since associations between blood

groups and cancers are made, then it ma! help improve screening for cancer. It ma! facilitate

 better and easier access in the assessment of the ris of ac+uiring cancer. "owever, further 

studies should be made so that the relationship of cancer and blood groups would be established.

I suggest that the presence of ABO antigens on tissues should further be studied as to how the!

affect cell function, metabolism and others. #his ma! be useful in stud!ing how cellular function

would be modified if ABO e$pression is altered which ma! be one cause of cancer. #he specific

tissues where ABO antigens are e$pressed and the mechanisms of how ABO blood group and

cancer are lined should also be studied. #his would give a clearer picture if ABO blood group is

reall! associated to cancer. #he establishment of facts would then improve cancer screening and

this ma! also facilitate prevention and ris reduction of cancer. If deeper understanding of these

relationships are made, the wa!s of combatting cancer ma! be -ust one step awa!.