title: Alcohol intake and early-onset basal cell carcinoma in a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous epidemiological studies of overall alcohol intake and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are inconsistent, with some evidence for differences by type of alcoholic beverage. While alcohol may enhance the carcinogenicity of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, this has not been evaluated in existing epidemiological studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate alcohol intake in relation to early-onset BCC, and explore potential interactions with UV exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Basal cell carcinoma cases (n = 380) and controls with benign skin conditions (n = 390) under 40 years of age were identified through Yale Dermatopathology. Participants provided information on lifetime alcohol intake, including type of beverage, during an in-person interview. Self-reported data on indoor tanning and outdoor sunbathing were used to categorize UV exposure. We calculated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using unconditional multivariate logistic regression in the full sample and in women only.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant association between lifetime alcohol intake and early-onset BCC overall [above median intake vs. no regular alcohol intake (OR 1·10, 95% CI 0·69-1·73)] or in women only (OR 1·21, 95% CI 0·73-2·01). Similarly, intake of red wine, white wine, beer or spirits and mixed drinks was not associated with early-onset BCC. In exploratory analyses, we saw limited evidence for an interaction (P(interaction) = 0·003), with highest risk for high alcohol and high UV exposures, especially in women, but subgroup risk estimates had wide and overlapping CIs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, we did not observe any clear association between lifetime alcohol intake and early-onset BCC.
authors: Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, U.S.A.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: L M
authors: LM
authors: Ferrucci
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Cartmel
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Molinaro
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Leffell
authors: A E
authors: AE
authors: Bale
authors: S T
authors: ST
authors: Mayne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D055108:Sunbathing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects