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* Consuming alcohol is associated with a higher risk of tumors in the esophagus, larynx,mouth, and liver.

* Alcoholics have a higher rate of occurence of genetic damage than normal.

* Acetaldehyde, the first product of alcohol metabolism, appears to play a major role in the damage.

* A new study found that alcohol adds to the destructiveness of certain carcinogens.

Cancer, likely involves change in the genetic material of the cells known as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Oncogenes are those genes that regulate cell growth, proliferation, and repair of tissues. Oncogenes are also the targets of carcinogenic agents such as asbestos, ultraviolet rays of the sun, and cigarette smoking. A study in the March issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research investigates if alcohol exposure can increase the cytotoxicity (cell destructiveness) of known carcinogenic agents that could, in turn, damage DNA and lead to mutation or cancer.

"We are bombarded by potential carcinogenic agents everyday in our environment," said Richard A. Deitrich, professor of pharmacology at the University of Colorado Health Science Center. "Most of these do not cause cancer, but given a boost from alcohol, some of them may."

"Epidemiological studies have shown that drinking alcohol is associated with an increased risk of tumors in the esophagus, mouth, larynx and liver," noted David B. Couch, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Mississippi and lead author of the study. "Blood cells of alcoholics also have a greater incidence of genetic damage than do members of the general population. It has been unclear, however, if alcohol itself causes these effects. The key finding of our study was to show that, in the model system used, alcohol exposure could produce effects consistent with inhibition of the base excision repair pathway." In other words, alcohol appears to contribute to genetic damage by impairing DNA repair processes.

"The major finding of this study is that alcohol causes an increase in the mutagenicity (the capacity to induce mutations) of agents that damage DNA," said Deitrich. "This is as a result of the metabolism of alcohol to acetaldehyde. In fact, it is clear that acetaldehyde is the major culprit in the effects noted here. The presumption is that it is acetaldehyde itself that is causing the damage, but it could be other aldehydes as well. For example, acetaldehyde may interfere with the normal cellular mechanisms designed to inactivate endogenous aldehydes, those produced in normal cellular function or those produced as a result of alcohol’s production of oxidative damage."

"Acetaldehyde is highly reactive," added Couch. "It can react with amino groups on proteins, which could potentially interfere with the function of the protein. Of course, acetaldehyde can also react with other cellular constituents, including DNA."

Couch and Deitrich both noted that researchers have known for a long time that alcohol increases the risk of cancer.

Based on the following published research:

Couch, D.B., & Baker, R.C. (2002, March). Ethanol-enhanced cytotoxicity of alkylating agents. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 26(3), 381-385.

Here is some additional correlation on cancer and alcohol:

Clues to alcohol cancer mystery - A genetic discovery could help explain why some people who drink too much develop cancers, while others do not. Submitted by Krupidan Krupidan to Health & Wellness | Note-it! | Add a Comment.

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Questioning Statistics - According to the expert report from the American Institute for Cancer Research, Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective, there is convincing evidence that alcohol increase the risk of cancer of the mouth, …

Alcohol Causes Cancer - It's quite illuminating that the following study has not yet reached the wider media. Without wishing to be too cynical, I do wonder whether that's because the journal in which the work is published does not use a highly aggressive …

Stop Drinking Alcohol - Best option for your health - They are afraid of what they are going to do without alcohol in their lives. Much like a smoker quitting cigarettes doesn't know what they're going to do without a cigarette in their hand. But, although a smoker is endangering their …

Alcohol is a cancer-causing agent - … human carcinogens, a fact that has been recognized by the US government for a number of years. That means, although this current study can't prove alcohol is a carcinogen, it is official that drinking alcohol increases cancer risk.

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