Association Between Prediagnostic IgE Levels and Risk of Glioma

Abstract

BackgroundPrevious nested case–control studies suggest that a prediagnostic biomarker of allergy, IgE, is inversely associated with the risk of glioma, but these findings are inconsistent. The purpose of our study was to assess this association and determine how long before glioma diagnosis it may be observed. MethodsWe conducted a nested case–control study using serum specimens from the Janus Serum Bank cohort in Norway. Blood donors who were subsequently diagnosed with glioma (n = 594 case subjects), between January 1, 1974 to December 31, 2007, were matched with subjects without glioma (n = 1177 control subjects) for date of blood collection, 2-year age interval at blood collection, and sex. Respiratory allergen-specific and total IgE levels in the serum were measured using fluorescent assays. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using conditional logistic regression models stratified on sex and glioblastoma, the most common glioma subtype. Data were stratified on time from blood collection to tumor diagnosis to assess how long before glioma diagnosis the association could be observed. ResultsAmong women, testing positive for allergen-specific IgE (>0.35 kUA/L) was associated with decreased risk of glioblastoma compared with testing negative (≤0.35 kUA/L; OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.23 to 0.93). Among both sexes combined, testing positive for total IgE (>100 kU/L) was associated with decreased risk of glioma compared with testing negative (≤100 kU/L; OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.56 to 0.99), and simultaneously testing positive for allergen-specific IgE and total IgE was associated with a borderline statistically significantly decreased risk of glioblastoma and glioma compared with simultaneously testing negative for these types of IgE. Testing positive for total IgE at least 20 years before diagnosis was associated with decreased risk of glioma compared with testing negative (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.30 to 0.99). ConclusionAn inverse association between IgE levels and risk of glioma was detected; the association was present at least 20 years before tumor diagnosis.

Incidence of Malignancies in Patients with IgG4-related Disease

“…Because such results were not obtained, the hypothesis is not true. We also expected that IgE would be a protective factor for malignancy given the reports of an inverse association between the level of IgE and cancer (20)(21)(22). However, this assumption also does not appear to be true.…”

Increased rate of positive penicillin skin tests among patients with glioma: insights into the association between allergies and glioma risk

“…Glioma risk has been shown to be inversely associated with a history of allergy and allergy-associated immunoglobulin E levels, 6,19,22,30,31,36,37 which indicates that a lower occurrence of allergies should be observed among patients with glioma. Eosinophils are major effectors in immune responses, including allergic reactions, 28 and an association between eosinophils and glioma has been suggested.…”

“…1 Previous reports have indicated an inverse relationship between self-reported allergies 19,22,30,36,37 or serum immunoglobulin E levels 6,31,35 and glioma risk. Moreover, eosinophils, one of the major effector cell types of the immune system, have been implicated in allergies as well as gliomas.…”

The Relationship between ABO Blood Group and Glioblastoma Multiforme

“…Nevertheless an inverse relationship was reported between history of allergies, fruit and/or vegetables intake and brain tumors [11,12]. Additionally, some studies reported that there was an increased incidence of brain cancer among white collar professionals, electrical, oil refinery and agriculture workers [13][14][15].…”