ABO phenotypes and inflammation-related predictors of lung cancer mortality: the Copenhagen Male Study – a 16-year follow-up

Inflammation and genetic susceptibility influence the risk of lung cancer. Previous studies suggest that the inflammatory response may depend upon ABO phenotype. The hypothesis that the association with lung cancer mortality risk of lifestyle and occupational factors previously linked to inflammation would depend upon ABO phenotype was tested in a long-term follow-up of 3,346 male subjects aged 53–74 yrs. During a 16-yr period, 170 (5.1%) of the male subjects died due to lung cancer; 84 (5.9%) of phenotype O, 70 (4.9%) of phenotype A and 16 (3.2%) of phenotype B/AB. In addition to cumulative tobacco consumption, high salt intake long-term occupational dust exposure, high fat intake and consumption of alcohol were significantly predictive of lung cancer mortality for phenotype O subjects. After multivariable adjustment, the hazard ratios associated with the first three of these factors were 2.31, 2.08 and 1.67, respectively. Compared with abstainers, the hazard ratios for males drinking 1–10 wine drinks·week −1 and males drinking >10 wine drinks·week −1 were 1.65 and 2.02, respectively. Among phenotype A subjects, only cumulative tobacco consumption was associated with lung cancer mortality risk. The predictive role of inflammation-related risk factors for lung cancer mortality was significantly stronger among males of phenotype O than A.