Do allergies protect against cancer?

Tuesday July 12th, 2011

People with contact allergies may enjoy some protection against common cancers, researchers said today.

A Danish study set out to identify people who react to chemicals and metals such as latex.

The research on 17,000 people found that people with contact allergies had reduced rates of breast cancer and some skin cancers - and that women seemed to have reduced rates of brain cancer.

Researchers say the findings are backed by other research, which suggests people with allergies may enjoy some protection against cancer because of their hyperactive immune systems.

There was an increased risk of bladder cancer, which the researchers say may be caused by high levels of chemicals in the blood, according to the study published by BMJ Open.

Researcher Dr Kaare Engkilde, of the Danish National Allergy Research Centre, Copenhagen University, Denmark, tracked down some 17,000 people who had undergone patch tests for contact allergens at a specialist skin hospital. About a third of these had been diagnosed with a contact allergy.

Dr Engkilde admits more research into the link is needed.

The researchers write: "If these relations are aetiological, there are implications for understanding how contact allergy can affect cancer development, and vice versa."

BMJ Open July 12 2011; doi 10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000084

Tags: Allergies & Asthma | Cancer | Dermatology | Europe

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