title: Decreased prevalence of immediate hypersensitivity (atopy) in a cancer population.
abstract: It has been suggested that the atopic population has decreased risk of cancer. This investigation examined the cumulative prevalence of atopy in a population with neoplastic disease and compared this with the prevalence of atopy in an age-matched control group and with published estimates of atopy in the general peopulation. Seventy-four patients with neoplastic disease and 86 patients without cancer were evaluated. The subjects were given a standard allergic questionnaire which evaluated them with regard to a history of allergic symptoms, hives, eczema, frequent colds, frequent unexplained rashes, hay fever, and asthma. All were skin tested with a representative group of regionally significant allergens. There was a 15-fold decrease in prevalence of atopy in the cancer population, compared with the control group and compared with published estimates of atopy in the general population.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D012306:Risk