title: Hay Fever and asthma as markers of atopic immune response and risk of colorectal cancer in three large cohort studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In a previous analysis of 12 cancers in the Cancer Prevention Study II (CPS-II) cohort including follow-up from 1982-2000, having both hay fever and asthma was associated with lower colorectal cancer mortality. The combination of these allergic conditions may be a marker for allergy-related immune responses that could inhibit colorectal carcinogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the association of having both hay fever and asthma with colorectal cancer mortality among 1,023,191 participants in CPS-I, followed from 1959-1972, and 1,102,092 participants in CPS-II, now followed from 1982-2008. We also examined associations with colorectal cancer incidence among 174,917 participants in the CPS-II Nutrition Cohort, a subgroup of CPS-II followed from 1992-2007. During the follow-up, there were 5,644 colorectal cancer deaths in CPS-I, 13,558 colorectal cancer deaths in CPS-II, and 3,365 incident colorectal cancer cases in the CPS-II Nutrition Cohort. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate multivariable-adjusted relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  RRs for colorectal cancer mortality associated with having both asthma and hay fever, compared with neither condition, were 0.90 (95% CI, 0.74-1.09) in CPS-I, 0.79 (95% CI, 0.69-0.91) in CPS-II, and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.74-0.92) when results from both cohorts were combined in a meta-analysis. The corresponding RR for colorectal cancer incidence in the CPS-II Nutrition Cohort was 0.90 (95% CI, 0.71-1.14).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results support an association between having both hay fever and asthma and modestly lower colorectal cancer mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research examining other potential markers of allergy-related immune response in relation to colorectal cancer is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Research Program, American Cancer Society, National Home Office, 250 Williams St, NW, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. Eric.Jacobs@cancer.org
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gapstur
authors.forename: Christina C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: Michelle C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Peter T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers