Primary brain tumours and specific serum immunoglobulin E: a case–control study nested in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort
B. Schlehofer
Unit of Environmental Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorB. Siegmund
Unit of Environmental Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Linseisen
Helmholtz Centre Munich, Institute of Epidemiology, Munich, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Schüz
International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
Search for more papers by this authorS. Rohrmann
Division of Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
University of Zurich, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Zürich, Switzerland
Search for more papers by this authorS. Becker
University Hospital Leipzig AÖR, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorD. Michaud
Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College, London, UK
Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
Search for more papers by this authorB. Melin
Department of Radiation Sciences, Oncology, Umea University, Umea, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorH. Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMCU), Utrecht, the Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorP. H. M. Peeters
Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College
Search for more papers by this authorP. Vineis
MRC/HPA Center for Environment and Health School of Public Health Imperial College London, London, UK
HuGeF Foundation, Torino, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorA. Tjonneland
Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorA. Olsen
Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorK. Overvad
Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorI. Romieu
Nutrition and Metabolism Section, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
Search for more papers by this authorH. Boeing
Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorK. Aleksandrova
Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorA. Trichopoulou
WHO Collaborating Center for Food and Nutrition Policies, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorC. Bamia
WHO Collaborating Center for Food and Nutrition Policies, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorP. Lagiou
WHO Collaborating Center for Food and Nutrition Policies, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorC. Sacerdote
CPO Centro di Riferimento per l’Epidemiologia e la Prevenzione Oncologica in Piemonte, Torino
Search for more papers by this authorD. Palli
Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology Unit, Cancer Research and Prevention Institute, ISPO, Florence, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorS. Panico
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorS. Sieri
Nutritional Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorR. Tumino
Cancer Registry and Histopathology Unit, ‘Civile M.P. Arezzo’ Hospital, Ragusa, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorM.-J. Sanchez
Andalusian School of Public Health and CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Granada, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorL. Rodriguez
Public Health and Participation Directorate, Health and Health Care Services Council, Asturias, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorM. Dorronsoro
Unit of Nutrition, Environment and Cancer, Cancer Epidemiology Research Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO-IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorE. J. Duell
Unit of Nutrition, Environment and Cancer, Cancer Epidemiology Research Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO-IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorM.-D. Chirlaque
Department of Epidemiology, Murcia, Regional Health Authority and CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Murcia, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorA. Barricarte
Navarre Public Health Institute, Pamplona, Spain
Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, CIPERESP), Pamplona, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorS. Borgquist
Department Oncology, Skane University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Manjer
Department of Clinical Sciences, Skane University Hospital, Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorV. Gallo
Neuroepidemiology, Imperial College London, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorN. E. Allen
Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Search for more papers by this authorT. J. Key
Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Search for more papers by this authorE. Riboli
Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorR. Kaaks
Division of Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Wahrendorf
Unit of Environmental Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorB. Schlehofer
Unit of Environmental Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorB. Siegmund
Unit of Environmental Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Linseisen
Helmholtz Centre Munich, Institute of Epidemiology, Munich, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Schüz
International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
Search for more papers by this authorS. Rohrmann
Division of Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
University of Zurich, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Zürich, Switzerland
Search for more papers by this authorS. Becker
University Hospital Leipzig AÖR, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorD. Michaud
Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College, London, UK
Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
Search for more papers by this authorB. Melin
Department of Radiation Sciences, Oncology, Umea University, Umea, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorH. Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMCU), Utrecht, the Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorP. H. M. Peeters
Julius Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College
Search for more papers by this authorP. Vineis
MRC/HPA Center for Environment and Health School of Public Health Imperial College London, London, UK
HuGeF Foundation, Torino, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorA. Tjonneland
Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorA. Olsen
Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorK. Overvad
Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
Search for more papers by this authorI. Romieu
Nutrition and Metabolism Section, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
Search for more papers by this authorH. Boeing
Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorK. Aleksandrova
Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorA. Trichopoulou
WHO Collaborating Center for Food and Nutrition Policies, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorC. Bamia
WHO Collaborating Center for Food and Nutrition Policies, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorP. Lagiou
WHO Collaborating Center for Food and Nutrition Policies, Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorC. Sacerdote
CPO Centro di Riferimento per l’Epidemiologia e la Prevenzione Oncologica in Piemonte, Torino
Search for more papers by this authorD. Palli
Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology Unit, Cancer Research and Prevention Institute, ISPO, Florence, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorS. Panico
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorS. Sieri
Nutritional Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorR. Tumino
Cancer Registry and Histopathology Unit, ‘Civile M.P. Arezzo’ Hospital, Ragusa, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorM.-J. Sanchez
Andalusian School of Public Health and CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Granada, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorL. Rodriguez
Public Health and Participation Directorate, Health and Health Care Services Council, Asturias, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorM. Dorronsoro
Unit of Nutrition, Environment and Cancer, Cancer Epidemiology Research Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO-IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorE. J. Duell
Unit of Nutrition, Environment and Cancer, Cancer Epidemiology Research Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO-IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorM.-D. Chirlaque
Department of Epidemiology, Murcia, Regional Health Authority and CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Murcia, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorA. Barricarte
Navarre Public Health Institute, Pamplona, Spain
Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, CIPERESP), Pamplona, Spain
Search for more papers by this authorS. Borgquist
Department Oncology, Skane University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Manjer
Department of Clinical Sciences, Skane University Hospital, Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorV. Gallo
Neuroepidemiology, Imperial College London, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorN. E. Allen
Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Search for more papers by this authorT. J. Key
Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Search for more papers by this authorE. Riboli
Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorR. Kaaks
Division of Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Wahrendorf
Unit of Environmental Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorEdited by: Stephan Weidinger
Abstract
To cite this article: Schlehofer B, Siegmund B, Linseisen J, Schüz J, Rohrmann S, Becker S, Michaud D, Melin B, Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita H, Peeters PHM, Vineis P, Tjonneland A, Olsen A, Overvad K, Romieu I, Boeing H, Aleksandrova K, Trichopoulou A, Bamia C, Lagiou P, Sacerdote C, Palli D, Panico S, Sieri S, Tumino R, Sanchez M-J, Rodriguez L, Dorronsoro M, Duell EJ, Chirlaque M-D, Barricarte A, Borgquist S, Manjer J, Gallo V, Allen NE, Key TJ, Riboli E, Kaaks R, Wahrendorf J. Primary brain tumours and specific serum immunoglobulin E: a case–control study nested in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. Allergy 2011; 66: 1434–1441.
Background: Case–control studies suggest that patients with allergic diseases have a lower risk of developing glioma but not meningioma or schwannoma. However, those data can be differentially biased. Prospective studies with objective measurements of immunologic biomarkers, like immunoglobulin E (IgE), in blood obtained before cancer diagnosis could help to clarify whether an aetiological association exists.
Methods: The present case–control study nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) measured specific serum IgE as a biomarker for the most common inhalant allergens in 275 glioma, 175 meningioma and 49 schwannoma cases and 963 matched controls using the ImmunoCAP specific IgE test. Subjects with an IgE level ≥0.35 kUA/l (kilo antibody units per litre) were classified as sensitized by allergens. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by adjusted conditional logistic regression models for each tumour subtype. The effect of dose–response relationship was assessed in five increasing IgE level categories to estimate P-values for trend.
Results: The risk of glioma was inversely related to allergic sensitization (OR = 0.73; 95% CI 0.51–1.06), especially pronounced in women (OR = 0.53; 95% CI 0.30–0.95). In dose–response analyses, for high-grade glioma, the lowest OR was observed in sera with the highest IgE levels (P for trend = 0.04). No association was seen for meningioma and schwannoma.
Conclusion: The results, based on serum samples prospectively collected in a cohort study, provide some support for the hypothesis that individuals with allergic sensitization are at reduced risk of glioma and confirm results from previous case–control studies.
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