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Microbes & Immunity

REVIEW ARTICLE
ABO blood type and cancer

susceptibility: Unraveling the complex relationship

Prashanna Koirala 1 , Chhiring Sherpa 2 , Rebecca Dangol 3 , Salina Hona 4 ,
Saroj Nepal 1 , and Prabin Dawadi *
1,5
1 Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, Mississippi, United States of America
2 Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Ohio,
United States of America
3 Department of Biotechnology, SANN International College, Purbanchal University, Kathmandu,
Bagmati, Nepal
4 Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Ohio, United States of America
5 Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Bagmati, Nepal

Abstract

Different human diseases have been associated with specific blood groups.
Numerous studies have promulgated their findings regarding the probable onset
of various cancers based on the type of ABO blood group. However, the findings
have been conflicting. This review primarily aims to summarize research findings
from around the world to investigate the relationship between the risk of cancer
occurrence and ABO blood group. Google Scholar, PubMed, Research4Life, and Web
Corresponding author: of Science were searched to identify relevant papers published before January 2023.
Prabin Dawadi Research papers related to common types of cancers were adequately and critically
(prabdawadi1993@gmail.com)
studied to determine the link between ABO blood groups and the risk of developing
Citation: Koirala P, Sherpa C, cancers. The results were ambiguous, as the findings were inconsistent regarding the
Dangol R, Hona S, Nepal S,
Dawadi P. ABO blood type and relationship between ABO blood groups and cancer development. Therefore, more
cancer susceptibility: Unraveling the comprehensive research is needed to validate this relationship. This mini-systematic
complex relationship. Microbes & review emphasizes the need for additional thorough investigations to establish a
Immunity. 2025;2(1):45-58.
doi: 10.36922/mi.3267 clear correlation because of the inconsistent results.
Received: March 26, 2024
Keywords: ABO; Blood group; Cancer risk; Relationship
Revised: October 24, 2024
Accepted: November 12, 2024
Published Online: December 31,
2024 1. Introduction
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). The ABO blood groups are polymorphic, antigenic, and genetic substances and consist
This is an Open-Access article 1
distributed under the terms of the of four phenotypes: “A,” “B,” “O,” and “AB.” The ABO system was the first genetic
Creative Commons Attribution polymorphism identified in humans and remains one of the major human blood
License, permitting distribution, type systems, with major applications in transfusion medicine and organ or tissue
and reproduction in any medium,
2,3
provided the original work is transplantation. The term “histoblood group ABO” is used to describe the omnipresent
properly cited. nature of ABO antigens. These blood group antigens are involved in cell signaling, cell
Publisher’s Note: AccScience recognition, and cell adhesion, which may reflect their potential role in tumorigenesis,
Publishing remains neutral with metastasis, and prognosis. Expanding the clinical significance of the ABO blood
4-7
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional system beyond immunohematology, transfusion, and transplant medicine is biologically
affiliations. feasible. 8

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2025) 45 doi: 10.36922/mi.3267