Significance of ABO-Rh Blood Groups in Response and Prognosis in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> To evaluate whether ABO-Rh blood groups have significance in the treatment response andprognosis in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: We retrospectively evaluatedfiles of 335 patients with breast cancer who were treated between 2005 and 2010. Demographic data, clinicpathologicalfindings, treatments employed, treatment response, and overall and disease-free survivals werereviewed. Relationships between clinic-pathological findings and blood groups were evaluated. <br/><b>Results</b>: 329women and 6 men were included to the study. Mean age at diagnosis was 55.2 years (range: 26-86). Of the cases,95% received chemotherapy while 70% were given radiotherapy and 60.9% adjuvant hormone therapy aftersurgery. Some 63.0% were A blood group, 17.6% O, 14.3% B and 5.1% AB. In addition, 82.0% of the cases wereRh-positive. Mean follow-up was 24.5 months. Median overall and progression-free survival times were 83.9 and79.5 months, respectively. Overall and disease-free survival times were found to be higher in patients with A andO blood groups (p<0.05). However rates did not differ with the Rh-positive group (p=0.226). In univariate andmultivariate analyses, ABO blood groups were identified as factors that had significant effects on overall anddisease-survival times (p=0.011 and p=0.002). <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: It was seen that overall and disease-free survivaltimes were higher in breast cancer patients with A and O blood groups when compared to those with other bloodgroups. It was seen that A and O blood groups had good prognostic value in patients with breast cancer.