Allergies and risk of pancreatic cancer: a pooled analysis from the Pancreatic Cancer Case-Control Consortium

Abstract

In order to quantify the risk of pancreatic cancer associated with history of any allergy and specific allergies, to investigate differences in the association with risk according to age, gender, smoking status, or body mass index, and to study the influence of age at onset, we pooled data from 10 case-control studies. In total, there were 3,567 cases and 9,145 controls. Study-specific odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by using unconditional logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, smoking status, and body mass index. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed by using the Cochran Q statistic. Study-specific odds ratios were pooled by using a random-effects model. The odds ratio for any allergy was 0.79 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62, 1.00) with heterogeneity among studies (P < 0.001). Heterogeneity was attributable to one study; with that study excluded, the pooled odds ratio was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.64, 0.84) (Pheterogeneity = 0.23). Hay fever (odds ratio = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.56, 0.96) and allergy to animals (odds ratio = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.94) were related to lower risk, while there was no statistically significant association with other allergies or asthma. There were no major differences among subgroups defined by age, gender, smoking status, or body mass index. Older age at onset of allergies was slightly more protective than earlier age.

Keywords: allergic rhinitis; case-control studies; hypersensitivity; pancreatic neoplasms.

Figure 1.

Pooled results for any allergy. Study-specific odds ratios are adjusted for age, gender, cigarette smoking status, body mass index (except for Minnesota), and race (except for Italy, SEARCH, Shanghai, and Toronto). Asthma is not included in “any allergy.” CI, confidence interval; MSKCC, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; NCI, National Cancer Institute; OR, odds ratio; SEARCH, Surveillance of Environmental Aspects Related to Cancer; UCSF, University of California, San Francisco.