Having elevated levels of antibodies involved in an allergic reaction may reduce the risk of developing brain tumors, researchers reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
The research, led by scientists at Brown University in the United States, confirms previous conclusions from the American Cancer Research Society that allergy-specific immune system responses are an important factor in reducing the risk of developing glioblastoma, a cancer of the central nervous system.
This time, however, the researchers did not analyze the allergy history of the recruited group of people with or without developing the cancer, but looked closely at data from four large-scale studies involving tens of thousands of people (Physicians ‘Health Study, Nurses’ Health Study, Women’s Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study).
Prospective analysis of patient samples before they had a brain tumor diagnosis or had received treatment, measured the relationship between IgE levels and cancer risk without fear that it might have been modified by the disease process or treatment.
People who detected elevated levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the blood serum (the antibodies involved in the development of an allergic reaction) were much less likely to develop gliomas than those with normal IgE levels.
These results suggest that the immune response to cancer cells in allergy sufferers is different. In the context of fighting cancer and preventing its proliferation, allergy sufferers may have some protection and be better able to fight cancer, says Dominique Michaud, an epidemiologist at Brown University.
Despite the large number of respondents, the actual number of cases corresponding to the analyzed profile was relatively small (169 people diagnosed with glioblastoma and the control group of 520 people).
Interestingly, the lowest risk of developing a brain tumor was observed in the group of people with IgE levels slightly above the normal limit, but not in those with the highest levels of antibodies. Scientists will try to elucidate this problem in future research (PAP).
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