title: Relationship between ABO blood groups and oral cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancer is a unique disease characterized by abnormal growth of cells which have the ability to invade the adjacent tissues and sometimes even distant organs. Oral cancer has multifactorial etiology and is significantly associated with risk factors of the individual's lifestyle, particularly, chronic use of tobacco, spicy food, alcohol and smoking. Many studies have indicated that genetic factors also have an influence on the etiology of cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate if any of the ABO blood groups are associated with an increased risk for oral cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was conducted at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology (KMIO), Bangalore, after obtaining permission from the Director of the institute. The study sample comprised 235 oral cancer patients and 812 controls. For statistical analysis, Chi-square test and odds ratio were used to assess the relationship between ABO blood groups and oral cancer. Probability level was fixed at ≤0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that people with blood group A had 1.46 times higher risk of developing oral cancer compared to people of other blood groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By employing a simple blood grouping test during community field programs, people with blood group A in the age group of 40-59 years having tobacco chewing habits can be apprised that they are more at risk to develop oral cancer than people with other blood groups.
authors: Department of Community Dentistry, Al-Azhar Dental College, Thodupuzha, Kerala, India.
authors: Bushranaaz Fathima
authors: BF
authors: Jaleel
authors: Ramesh
authors: R
authors: Nagarajappa
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000032:analysis*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System