An analysis of data from a Danish study shows that inflammation factors are stronger predictors of lung cancer mortality in individuals with blood type O than those with other blood types.

The inflammatory response is thought to play a key role in the development of lung cancer and there is evidence that this response is influenced by a person's ABO type, according to the report in the European Respiratory Journal.

The most important blood types are in the ABO group, which can be typed for all humans and many other primates. There are four principal types: A, B, AB, and O. The combination of these four components determines an individual's type.

To investigate the impact of ABO type on lung cancer risk factors, Dr. P. Suadicani and colleagues at Bispebjerg University Hospital assessed the long-term outcomes of 3346 men enrolled in the Copenhagen Male Study. The average age was 63 years and the subjects were followed for 16 years.

During follow-up, 170 subjects died from lung cancer, including 84 (5.9 percent) with type O, 70 (4.9 percent) with type A and 16 (3.2 percent) with type B/AB.

In men with type O blood, cumulative tobacco use, high salt intake, long-term occupational dust exposure, high fat intake, alcohol consumption, and older age were all risk factors for lung cancer mortality. High salt levels in the diet, long-term occupational dust exposure, and heavy alcohol use (more than 10 wine drinks per week) each increased the risk of lung cancer death by more than twofold.

By contrast, in men with blood type A, only total tobacco use and increasing age were linked to lung cancer death. With type B/AB, increasing age and possibly long-term occupational dust exposure were risk factors for lung cancer mortality.

These findings suggest that the ABO type strongly affects whether various lifestyle factors impact the risk of lung cancer mortality, the authors conclude.