title: The Association of Low-To-Moderate Alcohol Consumption with Breast Cancer Subtypes Defined by Hormone Receptor Status.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcohol is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer, but pathways involved in alcohol-related breast carcinogenesis are not clearly defined. We examined the association between low-to-moderate alcohol intake and breast cancer subtypes by tumor hormone receptor status.
  
  
  METHODS
  A hospital-based case-control study was performed in 585 cases and 1,170 controls. Information on alcohol intake and other risk factors was collected via a questionnaire. Logistic regression was used for analyses. All statistical tests were two-sided.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The odds ratio of breast cancer was 1.75 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-2.53) in women who consumed ≤5 drinks/week, and 3.13 (95% CI: 1.81-5.43) in women who consumed >5 drinks/week, both compared with non-drinkers for ≥10 years, after adjustment for age and other confounders. The association of alcohol intake with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer was stronger than with estrogen receptor-negative: the odds ratio per 1 category increase was 2.05 (95% CI: 1.49-2.82) and 1.29 (95% CI: 0.85-1.94) (P-heterogeneity = 0.07). There was no evidence of an interaction between alcohol intake and menopausal status (P = 0.19) in overall group; however, it was significant in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer (P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-to-moderate alcohol intake is associated with the risk of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer with the strongest association in postmenopausal women. Since alcohol intake is a modifiable risk factor of breast cancer, every woman should be informed and advised to control alcohol use.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Institute, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Loreta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Strumylaite
authors.affiliation: MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Institute, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Rima
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kregzdyte
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathological Anatomy, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poskiene
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Algirdas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bogusevicius
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathological Anatomy, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Darius
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pranys
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone