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Allergies and risk of head and neck cancer

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Abstract

Background

Individuals with allergies have a heightened Th2 (T helper 2) immunity, which may provide advantages in controlling tumor growth. Inverse associations have been reported among individuals with allergies and risk of brain and pancreatic cancers.

Methods

We examined the relationship between allergies and risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in a population-based case–control study with 1,014 cases and 1,193 frequency-matched controls. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) controlling for age, sex, race, smoking history, alcohol consumption, and education. In addition, in a subset of the population, models were adjusted for HPV16 status.

Results

Individuals with allergies had a 19 % lower risk of HNSCC (OR = 0.81, 95 % CI = 0.67–0.98). Associations with allergies were stronger for laryngeal (OR = 0.66, 95 % CI = 0.45–0.97) and oropharyngeal (OR = 0.73, 95 % CI = 0.57–0.92) cancers, while no association was observed for oral cavity cancers (OR = 0.98, 95 % CI = 0.76–1.26). History of asthma was not associated with overall HNSCC, but the association was statistically significant for oropharyngeal cancer (OR = 0.67, 95 % CI = 0.44–0.99). HPV16 status did not confound or modify the associations with allergies.

Conclusions

Elevated Th2 immunity in individuals with history of allergies and asthma may reduce the risk of HNSCC. Additional research into related mechanisms may provide new insights into how to treat HNSCC.

Impact

These findings may provide new insight into biological pathways that could lead to a better understanding of the etiology of this disease.

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Acknowledgments

NIH [CA078609, CA100679] and Flight Attendants Medical Research Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Dominique S. Michaud, Scott M. Langevin, Melissa Eliot & Karl T. Kelsey

  2. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Scott M. Langevin & Karl T. Kelsey

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK

    Dominique S. Michaud

  4. Masonic Cancer Center, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Heather H. Nelson

  5. Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Michael D. McClean

  6. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH, USA

    Brock C. Christensen & Carmen J. Marsit

  7. Department of Community and Family Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH, USA

    Brock C. Christensen & Carmen J. Marsit

Authors
  1. Dominique S. Michaud
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  2. Scott M. Langevin
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  3. Melissa Eliot
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  4. Heather H. Nelson
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  5. Michael D. McClean
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  6. Brock C. Christensen
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  7. Carmen J. Marsit
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  8. Karl T. Kelsey
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dominique S. Michaud.

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Michaud, D.S., Langevin, S.M., Eliot, M. et al. Allergies and risk of head and neck cancer. Cancer Causes Control 23, 1317–1322 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-0009-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-0009-8

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