Lung cancer in humans is not associated with lifetime total alcohol consumption or with genetic variation in alcohol dehydrogenase 3 (ADH3).
Although there is clear evidence that smoking is the primary risk factor for lung cancer, not all variation in disease risk is understood. There is some evidence that alcohol may contribute to risk. We examined lifetime and recent (12-24 mo previous) alcohol consumption in relation to risk of lung cancer in a case-control study in western New York. In addition we examined the alcohol dehydrogenase 3 (ADH3) genotype in relation to lung cancer risk; ADH3 is rate limiting in alcohol metabolism and has a functional polymorphism. We interviewed incident, primary, histologically confirmed lung cancer cases (n = 111) in two counties. Controls were randomly selected from among those residing in the counties, frequency-matched to cases for age and race (n = 1546). Lifetime and recent total alcohol and beverage-specific alcohol consumption as well as relevant confounders were assessed by interview. ADH3 genotype was evaluated by a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. Because of the small sample size, power was limited and CI were wide. Residual confounding by smoking remains a concern. Although we found a significant trend for increased risk for beer consumption in the recent period (odds ratio 1.67, 95% CI 0.96-2.92, P for trend = 0.05), chance cannot be ruled out as an explanation. We found no evidence of risk related to lifetime alcohol consumption nor evidence that alcohol dehydrogenase genotype modifies risk related to alcohol and lung cancer.
Freudenheim
Jo L
JL
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA. jfreuden@buffalo.edu
Ram
Malathi
M
Nie
Jing
J
Muti
Paola
P
Trevisan
Maurizio
M
Shields
Peter G
PG
Bandera
Elisa V
EV
Campbell
Lucy A
LA
McCann
Susan E
SE
Schunemann
Holger J
HJ
Carosella
Anne Marie
AM
Vito
Dominica
D
Russell
Marcia
M
Nochajski
Thomas H
TH
Goldman
Radoslav
R
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics*; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People
C020145:formaldehyde dehydrogenase (glutathione); D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases