Allergies, variants in IL-4 and IL-4Rα genes, and risk of pancreatic cancer Journal Article


Authors: Olson, S. H.; Orlow, I.; Simon, J.; Tommasi, D.; Roy, P.; Bayuga, S.; Ludwig, E.; Zauber, A. G.; Kurtz, R. C.
Article Title: Allergies, variants in IL-4 and IL-4Rα genes, and risk of pancreatic cancer
Abstract: Background: Several studies in epidemiology indicate that risk of pancreatic cancer is reduced in individuals with allergies. Although genes have been identified that are critical in allergic response, polymorphisms in these genes have not been studied in relation to risk of pancreatic cancer. We hypothesized that variants in these genes are related to risk. Methods: We investigated the association of allergies and pancreatic cancer in a hospital-based case-control study with 405 cases and 212 controls. In a subgroup of 149 cases and 135 controls, we studied the association of variants in IL-4 (C-589T, G3017T) and IL-4Rα (Gln576Arg) with allergies and with risk of pancreatic cancer. Results: We found reduced risk of pancreatic cancer associated with allergies, with adjusted odds ratios of 0.58 (95% CI 0.40-0.84) for any allergies, 0.45 (95% CI 0.29-0.70) for hay fever, and 0.43 (95% CI 0.23-0.80) for animals. The minor allele at each locus studied was associated with reduced risk of allergies in controls, leading us to hypothesize that they would be associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Overall, there was no association between the genotypes studied and risk of pancreatic cancer. In analyses within strata defined by presence or absence of allergies, there were differences in risk associated with genotype for IL-4 G3017T: there was slightly increased risk among those with allergies and reduced risk among those without allergies. Conclusions: The consistent association of allergies with risk of pancreatic cancer and these results suggest that associations between variants in genes related to allergic response and pancreatic cancer warrant further study. © 2007.
Keywords: adult; controlled study; major clinical study; case control study; polymorphism, single nucleotide; cancer risk; pancreas cancer; pancreatic neoplasms; polymerase chain reaction; adenocarcinoma; allele; disease association; genetic predisposition to disease; allergy; interleukin 4; gene locus; genetic association; genetic variability; genotype; risk factors; pilot projects; high risk population; epidemiology; allergic reaction; dna polymorphism; interleukin-4; hypersensitivity; polymorphisms; case-control study; genotypes; hay fever; interleukin 4 receptor alpha; receptors, interleukin-4
Journal Title: Cancer Detection and Prevention
Volume: 31
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0361-090X
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 2007-01-01
Start Page: 345
End Page: 351
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.cdp.2007.10.002
PUBMED: 18031948
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 11" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "CODEN: CDPRD" - "Source: Scopus"
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MSK Authors
  1. Sara H Olson
    234 Olson
  2. Irene Orlow
    247 Orlow
  3. Emmy Ludwig
    51 Ludwig
  4. Robert C Kurtz
    196 Kurtz
  5. Ann G Zauber
    314 Zauber
  6. Jennifer Anne Simon
    11 Simon
  7. Pampa Roy
    36 Roy