Inhaled allergies, especially to pollen, can significantly increase the risk of leukemia and lymphoma in women, but not in men, according to the researchers, the conclusions of which appear in the American Journal of Hematology.
The basis for the analysis was extensive VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) research, in which 79 thousand people participated. people aged 50 to 76. The main focus was the history of diseases and various types of allergies, as well as the presence of cancer risk factors, the use of drugs and dietary supplements, and the diet. As a standard, factors such as age, ethnicity, education, alcohol consumption and smoking were taken into account.
Each participant was followed for an average of eight years. 681 people developed hematological tumors. More often they were men with a history of leukemia or lymphoma in a close family, less physically active.
When allergies were examined more closely, it was found that susceptibility to plant allergens increased the risk of hematological cancers, especially B-cell lymphomas – but only in women. The reason is not clear, so during the next research, scientists want to confront these data with the effects of hormones on the immune system and the action of carcinogens.
Problems arise when the immune system is overactive; if it is not reactive enough, likewise. There is growing evidence that deregulation of the immune system, such as in allergies or autoimmune diseases, can affect cell survival during cancer development, says study author Dr. Mazyar Shadman of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle (PAP).