Epidemiologic studies have consistently found that self-reported
allergies are associated with reduced risk of
pancreatic cancer. Our aim was to prospectively assess the relationship between serum
immunoglobulin E (
IgE), a marker of
allergy, and risk. This nested case-control study within the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and
Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO) included subjects enrolled in 1994 to 2001 and followed through 2010. There were 283 cases of
pancreatic cancer and 544 controls matched on age, gender, race, and calendar date of blood draw. Using the ImmunoCAP system, we measured total
IgE (normal, borderline, elevated),
IgE to respiratory
allergens, and
IgE to food
allergens (negative or positive) in serum collected at baseline. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using conditional logistic regression. We assessed interactions with age, gender, smoking, body mass index, and time between randomization and case diagnosis. Overall, there was no association between the
IgE measures and risk. We found a statistically significant interaction by baseline age: in those aged ≥65 years, elevated risks were observed for borderline total
IgE (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 0.88-2.32) and elevated total
IgE (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.16-3.37) and positive
IgE to food
allergens (OR, 2.83; 95% CI, 1.29-6.20); among participants <65 years,
ORs were <1. Other interactions were not statistically significant. The reduced risk of
pancreatic cancer associated with self-reported
allergies is not reflected in serum
IgE.