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Review
. 2016 Mar 15;2(2):FSO107.
doi: 10.4155/fsoa-2015-0012. eCollection 2016 Jun.

The role of the histoblood ABO group in cancer

Seth K Rummel  1 , Rachel E Ellsworth  2
Affiliations
Review

The role of the histoblood ABO group in cancer

Seth K Rummel et al. Future Sci OA. .

Abstract

Since the first link between blood type and cancer was described in 1953, numerous studies have sought to determine whether the histoblood ABO group is associated with tumorigenesis. In 2009, the first significant association between a SNP located within the ABO glycosyltransferase gene and increased risk of pancreatic cancer was reported. Here, we describe the history and possible functions of the histoblood ABO group and then provide evidence for a role of blood group antigens in the most common cancer types worldwide using both blood type and SNP data. We also explore whether confusion regarding the role of blood type in cancer risk may be attributable to heterogeneity within tumor types.

Keywords: cancer; histoblood ABO group; rs505922.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial & competing interests disclosure This research was supported by a grant from the Office of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program W81XWH-11-2-0135). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Figures

<b>Figure 1.</b>
Figure 1.. Structure of the ABO gene locus and nucleotide sequences of A, B and O alleles.
Diagram of exon organization of the protein coding sequences (under shaded). Reprinted with permission from the Tokushima Medical Association [11]. †Entirely different deduced a.a sequence in O alleles due to frame-shifting caused by single base pair deletion. a.a.: Amino acid; bp: Base pair; nt.: Nucleotide position.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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