Published in:
01-04-2013 | Original Article
Sex-specific differences in the association between ABO genotype and gastric cancer risk in a Korean population
Published in: Gastric Cancer | Issue 2/2013
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Background
Although previous studies have demonstrated an association between ABO blood group and the risk of gastric cancer (GC), only one study has identified these associations using the ABO genotype; however, that study did not evaluate sex differences in this association. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether there are sex-specific differences in the ABO genotype-associated risk of GC. In addition, we explored the association of the ABO genotype and the clinicopathologic characteristics of GC in a Korean population.
Methods
We conducted a large-scale case–control study of 3245 GC patients (2204 males, 1041 females) and 1700 controls (821 males, 879 females). The ABO genotype was determined by multicolor real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using displacing probes.
Results
As compared with genotype OO, genotypes AA and AO in females, but not in males, were associated with a significantly increased risk of GC (odds ratio [OR] 1.56 and 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.08–2.26 for AA; OR 1.57 and 95 % CI 1.21–2.03 for AO). In a subgroup analysis, blood group A had a significantly increased risk of diffuse-type GC (OR 2.00, 95 % CI 1.43–2.78), but not of intestinal-type (OR 1.31, 95 % CI 0.96–1.79) or mixed-type GC (OR 1.43, 95 % CI 0.92–2.24).
Conclusion
The ABO genotypes AA and AO were significantly associated with GC only in females and only for diffuse-type GC. These data suggest that the association between ABO blood group and GC risk may differ according to sex and histological type.