Is there a link between vulval cancer and blood group?

Risk factors for squamous cell vulval cancer (SCC) remain unclear though there have been associations with lichen sclerosis, smoking, and vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN). We studied 191 patients who had been referred to the vulval clinic at the Royal Free Hospital and who had both blood group and histopathology results available. Seventy-two percent of patients with SCC and non-neoplastic epithelial disorders of the vulva (NNEDV) were found to be in blood group A with only 17% in blood group O. Those with SCC associated with VIN had only 30% in blood group A with 50% in blood group O. The control population showed that 38% of the population were in blood group A and 43% were in blood group O. Our results suggest that blood group A is prevalent in patients with SCC associated with NNEDV but not in those women with squamous vulval cancer and associated VIN.

Lichen sclerosus; VIN; Yulval cancer; Blood groups; Progression

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