Allergies and Cancer Risk Associations

Allergic conditions and cancer intersect through immunological mechanisms that influence tumour development and patient outcomes. Epidemiological studies have reported both inverse and positive associations between atopic disorders and various malignancies, suggesting that allergic sensitisation may modulate cancer risk through chronic inflammation, immune surveillance and effector cell recruitment. Elevated serum IgE and tissue eosinophilia, hallmarks of T-helper 2 (Th2) immunity, can enhance antitumour immunity by activating mast cells, macrophages and cytotoxic pathways within the tumour microenvironment. Conversely, prolonged allergic inflammation and associated cytokine profiles may create a protumour niche in certain organs. Understanding the dualistic role of allergic immune responses is vital for risk stratification, biomarker development and the design of immunotherapeutic strategies that harness or temper Th2-driven mechanisms for cancer prevention and treatment.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of IgE-based approaches in oncology. Engineered monoclonal IgE targeting melanoma-associated antigens mediates antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, promotes macrophage infiltration and activates pro-inflammatory gene programmes in the tumour microenvironment, resulting in prolonged survival in humanised xenograft models without eliciting systemic hypersensitivity. Advances in molecular cloning have facilitated the rapid generation of recombinant IgE constructs, enabling detailed functional analyses of allergen-specific Fc receptor engagement and supporting preclinical evaluation of novel IgE immunotherapies.

Allergies and Cancer Risk Associations publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in allergies and cancer risk associations across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Immunoglobulin E (IgE): An antibody isotype central to allergic reactions and parasitic defence, now studied for its role in tumour immunosurveillance.

Eosinophilia: Elevated levels of eosinophils in blood or tissues, reflecting allergic inflammation and implicated in tumour infiltration and prognosis.

Th2 immunity: A branch of adaptive immunity characterised by interleukins such as IL-4 and IL-13, driving IgE production and allergy-associated responses.

Specific IgE (sIgE): Antibodies directed against defined allergen molecules, used as biomarkers for atopic sensitisation and correlates of cancer risk.

Tumour microenvironment (TME): The dynamic ecosystem of immune cells, stromal elements and signalling mediators surrounding a tumour that influences its growth and immune modulation.

References

1. AllergoOncology – the impact of allergy in oncology: EAACI position paper. Allergy (2017).
2. Association between cancer and allergies. Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology (2016).
3. Anti-cancer pro-inflammatory effects of an IgE antibody targeting the melanoma-associated antigen chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4. Nature Communications (2023).
4. A tool kit for rapid cloning and expression of recombinant antibodies. Scientific Reports (2014).
5. Peripheral Inflammation Featuring Eosinophilia or Neutrophilia Is Associated with the Survival and Infiltration of Eosinophils within the Tumor among Various Histological Subgroups of Patients with NSCLC. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2024).
6. Asthma and the risk of lung cancer: a meta-analysis. Oncotarget (2017).
7. Investigating the association between allergen-specific immunoglobulin E, cancer risk and survival. OncoImmunology (2016).