BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the association between A, B, O, Rhesus (Rh)-positive and Rh-negative
blood groups and
breast cancer in a nationwide cohort of 3,944 patients in Turkey. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective study included 3,944 patients diagnosed with
breast cancer between 2004 and 2015 and with known blood type. Clinical and demographic patient data included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), menopausal status. The
breast tumor type, size, grade, TNM stage, and the presence of lymph node and distant
metastases were noted. Histopathology of the
breast tumors had included routine detection of
human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and
estrogen receptor (ER) levels. RESULTS The 3,944 patients with
breast cancer were
blood group, type A, B, O, and Rh-positive or Rh-negative; the median age was 47.9 years (range, 18.2-89.6 years); 99.5% (3923/3,844) were women, and 0.5% (21/3944) were men. Patients with blood type 0 had a significantly smaller
tumor size compared with patients with blood types A or B. There were no significant differences between
blood groups and patient age, BMI, menopausal status,
tumor histology, ER status, HER2 status, lymph node and distant
metastasis. However, there was a significant difference in the prevalence of lobular
breast cancer, levels of ER-positive
tumor cells, and prevalence of cases with
tumor metastases in Rh-positive patients compared with Rh-negative patients. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this retrospective study showed that the type, grade, stage, and hormonal status of
breast cancer showed no significant associations with ABO blood grouping.