ABO blood group and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer within the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Previous studies have examined the association between ABO blood group and ovarian cancer risk, with inconclusive results. METHODS: In eight studies participating in the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium, we determined ABO blood groups and diplotypes by genotyping 3 SNPs in the ABO locus. Odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals were calculated in each study using logistic regression; individual study results were combined using random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Compared to blood group O, the A blood group was associated with a modestly increased ovarian cancer risk (OR 1.09; 95 % CI 1.01-1.18; p = 0.03). In diplotype analysis, the AO, but not the AA diplotype, was associated with increased risk (AO OR 1.11; 95 % CI 1.01-1.22; p = 0.03; AA OR 1.03; 95 % CI 0.87-1.21; p = 0.76). Neither AB nor the B blood groups were associated with risk. Results were similar across ovarian cancer histologic subtypes. CONCLUSION: Consistent with most previous reports, the A blood type was associated modestly with increased ovarian cancer risk in this large analysis of multiple studies of ovarian cancer. Future studies investigating potential biologic mechanisms are warranted.