title: Relative Risk of Various Head and Neck Cancers among Different Blood Groups: An Analytical Study.
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. The limited and contrasting evidence regarding the association of ABO blood groups with the different types of head and neck cancers in the Indian population warrants the need for the present study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relative risk of various Head & Neck cancers among different blood groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred sixty two diagnosed cases of different type of head and neck cancers and 400 controls were selected from four hospitals of New Delhi, India. The information regarding the type of head and neck cancer was obtained from the case sheets of the patients regarding their socio demographic profile, dietary history using a structured performa. The information regarding type of cancer (cases only), ABO blood group was collected. Statistical Tests: The data was analysed using the SPSS 19 version. Chi square test and odd ratios were calculated. The level of significance was fixed at 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The O blood group was found to be most prevalent followed by B, A and AB among the cases as well as the controls. Oral cancer patients showed maximum number in blood group O followed by B, A and AB. Significant pattern of distribution was seen among the patients of esophageal cancer, laryngeal cancer and salivary gland cancer as well (p= 0.003, p=0.000 p=0.112 respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study reveals that there is an inherited element in the susceptibility or protection against different types of head and neck cancers. Blood group A was found to be a potential risk factor for the development of oral cancers, esophageal cancers and salivary gland cancers while blood group B was found to be a potential risk factor for laryngeal cancers.
authors: Postgraduate Student, Department of Public Health Dentistry, D.J College of Dental Sciences & Research , Modinagar, U.P., India .
authors: Khushboo
authors: K
authors: Singh
authors: Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, D.J College of Dental Sciences & Research , Modinagar, U.P., India .
authors: Sunder
authors: S
authors: Kote
authors: Professor & Head of Department, Department of Public Health Dentistry, D.J College of Dental Sciences & Research , Modinagar, U.P., India .
authors: Basavaraj
authors: B
authors: Patthi
authors: Senior Lecturer, Department, Department of Public Health Dentistry, D.J College of Dental Sciences & Research , Modinagar, U.P., India .
authors: Ashish
authors: A
authors: Singla
authors: Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry D.J College of Dental Sciences & Research , Modinagar, U.P., India .
authors: Shilpi
authors: S
authors: Singh
authors: Postgraduate Student, Department of Public Health Dentistry, D.J College of Dental Sciences & Research , Modinagar, U.P., India .
authors: Hansa
authors: H
authors: Kundu
authors: Postgraduate Student, Department of Public Health Dentistry, D.J College of Dental Sciences & Research , Modinagar, U.P., India .
authors: Swati
authors: S
authors: Jain
keywords: Blood Groups; Esophageal cancers; Laryngeal cancer; Oral cancer; Salivary gland cancers