Lack of any Association between Blood Groups and Lung Cancer, Independent of Histology

Abstract

<br/><b>Introduction</b>: Lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths, is divided into 2 main classes based on itsbiology, therapy and prognosis: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Manycases are at an advanced stage at diagnosis, which is a major obstacle to improving outcomes. It is important todefine the high risk group patients for early diagnosis and chance of cure. Blood group antigens are chemicalcomponents on erythrocyte membranes but they are also expressed on a variety of epithelial cells. Links betweenABO blood groups with benign or malignant diseases, such as gastric and pancreas cancers, have been observedfor a long time. In this study, we aimed to investigate any possible relationship between lung cancer histologicalsubtypes and ABO-Rh blood groups. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: The files of 307 pathologically confirmed lungcancer patients were reviewed retrospectively. Cases with a serologically determined blood group and Rh factorwere included and those with a history of another primary cancer were excluded, leaving a total of 221. Thedistribution of blood groups of the lung cancer patients were compared with the distribution of blood groups ofhealthy donors admitted to the Turkish Red Crescent Blood Service in our city in the year 2012. <br/><b>Results</b>: Therewas no significant difference between patients with lung cancer of either type and the control group in termsof distribution of ABO blood groups and Rh factor (p: 0.073). There was also no relationship with non smallcell cancer histological subtypes. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: In this study, we found no relationship between the ABO-Rhesusblood groups and NSCLC and SCLC groups. To our knowledge this is the first analysis of ABO blood groupsin SCLC patients.