A pooled multisite analysis of the effects of atopic medical conditions in glioma risk in different ethnic groups

Abstract

Background The incidences of atopic conditions (allergies, asthma or eczema) and glioma vary by ethnicity. Atopic conditions are inversely associated with gliomas. We conducted a pooled multi-site study investigating the associations of atopic conditions with glioma in different race/ethnicity groups. Methods Using glioma cases and healthy controls, unconditional logistic regression was conducted to assess the associations of atopic conditions with glioma separately in White, Black, Asian and Hispanic subpopulations. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cases were less likely than controls to report a history of atopic conditions in Whites (OR=0.46, [95% CI 0.38–0.54]) and Asians (OR=0.27, [95% C, 0.10–0.73]). The same trend was seen when looking at glioma cases of all histologies. An inverse association was not seen in Blacks for GBM or all histologies combined. Conclusions The inverse association between glioma and atopic conditions may vary by ethnicity due to a difference in the biology of atopic conditions in different ethnicities but may be due to chance because of the limitations of small non-White sample sizes.

Approaching a Scientific Consensus on the Association between Allergies and Glioma Risk: A Report from the Glioma International Case-Control Study

“…The mORs reported in our study for overall allergies and respiratory allergies fall within this range. Similarly, our effect estimates for asthma and eczema are also consistent with these and other smaller studies (14, 27, 28, 35). Based on the growing body of evidence in the literature, the scientific community may be approaching a consensus on the role of allergies in glioma risk (36, 37).…”

“…With some exceptions (8–10), the majority of studies have found that allergic conditions may reduce glioma risk by as much as 20–40% (1–4, 7). These associations have been examined using single- [i.e., (11)], multi-site [i.e., (12–14)], and nested case-control studies [i.e., (15, 16)], prospective cohort studies [i.e., (3)], and meta-analyses [i.e., (1, 2, 7)]. Additionally, the observed inverse association between allergies and glioma has remained consistent across studies with different exposure assessment strategies, such as self-reported allergy status (3), self-reported physician-diagnosed allergies (12, 13, 17–19), number of allergy types (12, 17), and allergy-related biomarkers, such as Immunoglobulin E [overall (4, 11, 16, 20), pre-diagnostic (16, 21), and/or allergen-specific (11, 15, 16)], soluble CD23 levels (22), and polymorphisms in allergy-related genes (23–26).…”

Genomic and Molecular Characterization of Brain Tumors in Asian and Non-Asian Patients of Los Angeles: A Single Institution Analysis

“…PFS and OS between the two groups were not statistically distinct from one another. There are several studies that document the mutational statuses of GBM, with some demonstrating disparities in PFS and OS between races [ 23 25 26 28 32 33 35 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 ]. Dai et al [ 33 ] performed a meta-analysis of GBM patients which included studies from Europe, North America, and Asia.…”

Repurposing old drugs in oncology: Opportunities with clinical and regulatory challenges ahead

“…Regulatory authorities increasingly require subgroup analysis of data by ethnicity . The inverse association between glioma and atopic conditions reportedly varies with ethnicity, there being no association in the black population . Heath et al have recently reported significant differences and trends in molecular signatures of the three cancer types in African Americans and Caucasians, a finding that implies racial/ethnic differences in carcinogenesis and response to the drug being investigated.…”

“…221 The inverse association between glioma and atopic conditions reportedly varies with ethnicity, there being no association in the black population. 222 Heath et al 223 have recently reported significant differences and trends in molecular signatures of the three cancer types in African Americans and Caucasians, a finding that implies racial/ethnic differences in carcinogenesis and response to the drug being investigated. It has been reported that among diabetic men without metformin use, prostate cancer incidence was higher in Hispanics and African Americans than in non-Hispanic Whites.…”