Case-control study of lifetime alcohol consumption and endometrial cancer risk.
OBJECTIVE
Alcohol consumption is hypothesized to increase the risk of endometrial cancer by increasing circulating estrogen levels. This study sought to investigate the association between lifetime alcohol consumption and endometrial cancer risk.


METHODS
We recruited 514 incident endometrial cancer cases and 962 frequency age-matched controls in this population-based case-control study in Alberta, Canada, from 2002 to 2006. Participants completed in-person interviews querying lifetime alcohol consumption and other relevant health and lifestyle factors. Participants reported the usual number of drinks of beer, wine, and liquor consumed; this information was compiled for each drinking pattern reported over the lifetime to estimate average lifetime exposure to alcohol.


RESULTS
Lifetime average alcohol consumption was relatively low (median intake: 3.9 g/day for cases, 4.9 g/day for controls). Compared with lifetime abstainers, women consuming >2.68 and ≤8.04 g/day alcohol and >8.04 g/day alcohol on average over the lifetime showed 38 and 35 % lower risks of endometrial cancer, respectively (p trend = 0.023). In addition, average lifetime consumption of all types of alcohol was associated with decreased risks. There was no evidence for effect modification by body mass index, physical activity, menopausal status, and hormone replacement therapy use combined and effects did not differ by type of endometrial cancer (type I or II).


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides epidemiologic evidence for an inverse association between relatively modest lifetime average alcohol consumption (approximately 1/4 to 1/2 drink/day) and endometrial cancer risk. The direction of this relation is consistent with previous studies that examined similar levels of alcohol intake.
Department of Population Health Research, Cancer Control Alberta, Alberta Health Services, Box ACB, 2210-2nd St SW, Calgary, AB, T2S 3C3, Canada, christine.friedenreich@albertahealthservices.ca.
Christine M
CM
Friedenreich
Thomas P
TP
Speidel
Heather K
HK
Neilson
Annie R
AR
Langley
Kerry S
KS
Courneya
Anthony M
AM
Magliocco
Linda S
LS
Cook
D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors