-Alcohol consumption is linked to receptor positive breast cancers. This is according to a study published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Researchers set out to define whether there was an association between alcohol consumption and receptor status of breast cancer.
· The study included 184,418 postmenopausal women 50-71 years of age who were enrolled in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study. Alcohol use, diet, and potential risk factors for cancer were assessed at baseline.
During a seven year follow-up, more than 5,000 breast cancer cases were found.
Alcohol use was significantly associated with total breast cancer cases.
Even moderate amounts of alcohol, less than a beer or one glass of wine per day, was shown to increase breast cancer risk.
There was a 33% increase risk of estrogen or progesterone receptor positive breast cancer in participants who drank more than two drinks per day.

· This is an important study in that it shows us that there is an association between alcohol consumption and breast cancer.
The study also shows that alcohol may be involved in the estrogen or progesterone pathways leading to breast cancer. This is significant because it may ultimately lead to a greater understanding of breast cancer and may help define treatments for breast cancer treatments in the future.

Cristopher Geiler, M.D.
Reference
Am J Epidemiol 2009;170:308-317

alcohol drinking, breast neoplasms, ductal, breast carcinoma, lobular, estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors