Breast cancer risk in relation to most prevalent IgE specific antibodies: a case control study in Greece.
BACKGROUND
This study aims to explore the debatable role of allergy in breast cancer (BC) by using country-specific biological markers, namely levels of the most prevalent allergen-specific immunoglobulin E in Greece.


METHODS
Blood samples and clinical information were collected over a 30-month period from 103 women with histologically-confirmed BC and 103 controls from two university hospitals in Athens. Allergen-specific IgE, against the 12 prevailing allergens in Greece were determined; thereafter, a score comprising the sum of the individual values for this battery of serological IgE determinations was created. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were undertaken using case-control status as the outcome and IgE-scores as the predictor variable, controlling for socio-demographic, gynecological and lifestyle confounders.


RESULTS
The serum IgE score seemed to be positively related to BC (OR: approximately 1.73; CI: 0.95-3.14; p-value: 0.07). A positive correlation between serological evidence and allergic history among controls was also found (p-value: 0.06).


CONCLUSIONS
This investigation suggests an IgE-mediated allergic response among women with BC in comparison to their controls. The finding needs confirmation by immuno-epidemiological investigation to clarify the directionality of this association and whether laboratory-ascertained atopy can be considered as a risk-marker of susceptibility in the development of BC.
Petridou
E T
ET
Unit of Preventive Medicine, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology and School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece. epetrid@med.uoa.gr
Chavelas
C
C
Dikalioti
S K
SK
Dessypris
N
N
Terzidis
A
A
Nikoulis
D I
DI
Markopoulos
C
C
Papadiamantis
Y
Y
Germenis
A E
AE
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E