ABO Blood Group and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in a Turkish Population in Western Blacksea Region

Background: We aimed to investigate the relationship between blood groups and pancreatic cancer in aTurkish population in Western Blacksea region.
Methods: This is a retrospective study. Zonguldak KaraelmasUniversity outpatient oncology clinic records were screened for the period between 2004 and 2011.
Results: Themedian age of patients were 56 (±16) and 132 of 633 study population had pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancerpatients had significantly higher rates of blood group A compared to controls (OR 1.8, 95%CI, p 0.005). Rates ofblood group AB was significantly lower than the control group (OR 0.37, 95% CI, p 0.04). The median survival(IR) time in subjects having the blood groups A, B, AB and O were 7.0 (1-28), 7.0 (2-38), 10 (2-36) and 9.0 (2-48)months respectively; the blood group 0 had significantly higher overall survival (OS) compared to the non-0groups (p 0.04).
Conclusions: Pancreatic cancer patients had more common blood group A in our population.Moreover, blood group AB appeared to be a protective factor against pancreatic cancer in our population. Bloodgroup 0 had a significantly longer survival compared to non-0, regardless of prognostic factors.