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Meta-Analysis
. 2015 Feb 3;112(3):580-93.
doi: 10.1038/bjc.2014.579. Epub 2014 Nov 25.

Alcohol consumption and site-specific cancer risk: a comprehensive dose-response meta-analysis

V Bagnardi  1 , M Rota  2 , E Botteri  3 , I Tramacere  4 , F Islami  5 , V Fedirko  6 , L Scotti  7 , M Jenab  8 , F Turati  9 , E Pasquali  3 , C Pelucchi  10 , C Galeone  10 , R Bellocco  11 , E Negri  10 , G Corrao  7 , P Boffetta  12 , C La Vecchia  13
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Alcohol consumption and site-specific cancer risk: a comprehensive dose-response meta-analysis

V Bagnardi et al. Br J Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Alcohol is a risk factor for cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, oesophagus, colorectum, liver, larynx and female breast, whereas its impact on other cancers remains controversial.

Methods: We investigated the effect of alcohol on 23 cancer types through a meta-analytic approach. We used dose-response meta-regression models and investigated potential sources of heterogeneity.

Results: A total of 572 studies, including 486 538 cancer cases, were identified. Relative risks (RRs) for heavy drinkers compared with nondrinkers and occasional drinkers were 5.13 for oral and pharyngeal cancer, 4.95 for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, 1.44 for colorectal, 2.65 for laryngeal and 1.61 for breast cancer; for those neoplasms there was a clear dose-risk relationship. Heavy drinkers also had a significantly higher risk of cancer of the stomach (RR 1.21), liver (2.07), gallbladder (2.64), pancreas (1.19) and lung (1.15). There was indication of a positive association between alcohol consumption and risk of melanoma and prostate cancer. Alcohol consumption and risk of Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were inversely associated.

Conclusions: Alcohol increases risk of cancer of oral cavity and pharynx, oesophagus, colorectum, liver, larynx and female breast. There is accumulating evidence that alcohol drinking is associated with some other cancers such as pancreas and prostate cancer and melanoma.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of selection of studies for inclusion in meta-analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pooled RR estimates by cancer site and alcohol intake. Squares indicate the RR estimates and whiskers their 95% confidence intervals. Abbreviations: AC=adenocarcinoma; CI= confidence interval; RR= relative risk; SCC=squamous cell carcinoma.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Relative risk functions and corresponding 95% confidence intervals describing the dose–response relationship between alcohol consumption and cancer risk obtained by fitting meta-regression models, by cancer site. Abbreviations: AC=adenocarcinoma; RR=relative risk; SCC=squamous cell carcinoma.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Relative risk functions and corresponding 95% confidence intervals describing the dose–response relationship between alcohol consumption and cancer risk obtained by fitting meta-regression models, by cancer site. Abbreviations: AC=adenocarcinoma; RR=relative risk; SCC=squamous cell carcinoma.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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