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07:50
Genome-Wide Analysis of DNA Methylation in Gastrointestinal Cancer
Published on: September 18, 2020
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Alcohol and gastrointestinal cancers.
Giuseppe Vanella1, Livia Archibugi2, Serena Stigliano3
1Digestive Disease Unit, Sant' Andrea Hospital.
Current Opinion in Gastroenterology
|December 15, 2018
Summary
Alcohol consumption is linked to increased digestive tract cancer risk, including esophageal, colorectal, gastric, and pancreatic types. Acetaldehyde, a byproduct of alcohol metabolism, plays a key role in alcohol-induced carcinogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
- Public Health
Background:
- Alcohol is a known carcinogen, responsible for 5% of global deaths in 2016, with 13% of these attributed to cancer.
- The association between alcohol and digestive tract cancers is well-established for esophageal, liver, and colorectal cancers, with ongoing research for gastric and pancreatic cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent evidence on the epidemiologic associations between alcohol consumption and the risk of esophageal, gastric, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers.
- To explore the underlying mechanisms linking alcohol intake to these specific cancer types.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of recent epidemiological studies.
- Analysis of mechanistic pathways, including the role of acetaldehyde and potential mediators like the gut microbiome.
Main Results:
- Moderate alcohol intake elevates the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and colorectal cancer.
- Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with increased risks of gastric and pancreatic cancers.
- Acetaldehyde is a key carcinogen, causing DNA damage and oxidative stress; its role is central to alcohol-induced carcinogenesis.
Conclusions:
- Sufficient evidence supports the link between alcohol consumption and cancers of the esophagus, stomach, colon-rectum, and pancreas.
- Public health strategies should incorporate alcohol intake modification to prevent these cancers, particularly for high-risk individuals.
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