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Starek-Świechowicz B, Budziszewska B, Starek A. Alcohol and breast cancer. Pharmacol Rep 2023; 75:69-84. [PMID: 36310188 PMCID: PMC9889462 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-022-00426-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the main causes of death in women worldwide. In women, breast cancer includes over half of all tumours caused by alcohol. This paper discusses both ethanol metabolism and the mechanisms of mammary tumourigenesis caused by alcohol. Numerous signalling pathways in neoplastic transformation following alcohol consumption in women have been presented. In addition, primary and secondary prevention, phytochemicals, synthetic chemicals, specific inhibitors of enzymes and selective receptor modulators have been described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata Starek-Świechowicz
- Department of Biochemical Toxicology, Chair of Toxicology, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Bogusława Budziszewska
- Department of Biochemical Toxicology, Chair of Toxicology, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Andrzej Starek
- Department of Biochemical Toxicology, Chair of Toxicology, Medical College, Jagiellonian University, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
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2
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Abstract
ABSTRACT Triple-negative breast cancer accounted for 12% of breast cancers diagnosed in the United States from 2012 to 2016, with a 5-year survival 8% to 16% lower than hormone receptor-positive disease. However, preventive and screening strategies remain tailored to the demographics of less lethal luminal cancers. This review examines the ethnic, genetic, and modifiable risk factors associated with triple-negative breast cancer, which providers must recognize to address the societal disparities of this deadly disease. Most notable is that triple-negative cancers disproportionately affect African American women and carriers of germline BRCA and PALB2 mutations. Even controlling for treatment delays, stage, and socioeconomic factors, African Americans with triple-negative breast cancer remain nearly twice as likely to die of their disease. To level the playing field, we must integrate genomic predictors of disease and epidemiologic characteristics of molecular breast cancer subtypes to provide personalized risk assessment, screening, and treatment for each patient.
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3
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Wang J, Heng YJ, Eliassen AH, Tamimi RM, Hazra A, Carey VJ, Ambrosone CB, de Andrade VP, Brufsky A, Couch FJ, King TA, Modugno F, Vachon CM, Hunter DJ, Beck AH, Hankinson SE. Alcohol consumption and breast tumor gene expression. Breast Cancer Res 2017; 19:108. [PMID: 28899409 PMCID: PMC5596493 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-017-0901-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Alcohol consumption is an established risk factor for breast cancer and the association generally appears stronger among estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors. However, the biological mechanisms underlying this association are not completely understood. Methods We analyzed messenger RNA (mRNA) microarray data from both invasive breast tumors (N = 602) and tumor-adjacent normal tissues (N = 508) from participants diagnosed with breast cancer in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and NHSII. Multivariable linear regression, controlling for other known breast cancer risk factors, was used to identify differentially expressed genes by pre-diagnostic alcohol intake. For pathway analysis, we performed gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Differentially expressed genes or enriched pathway-defined gene sets with false discovery rate (FDR) <0.1 identified in tumors were validated in RNA sequencing data of invasive breast tumors (N = 166) from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Results No individual genes were significantly differentially expressed by alcohol consumption in the NHS/NHSII. However, GSEA identified 33 and 68 pathway-defined gene sets at FDR <0.1 among 471 ER+ and 127 ER- tumors, respectively, all of which were validated. Among ER+ tumors, consuming 10+ grams of alcohol per day (vs. 0) was associated with upregulation in RNA metabolism and transport, cell cycle regulation, and DNA repair, and downregulation in lipid metabolism. Among ER- tumors, in addition to upregulation in RNA processing and cell cycle, alcohol intake was linked to overexpression of genes involved in cytokine signaling, including interferon and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling pathways, and translation and post-translational modifications. Lower lipid metabolism was observed in both ER+ tumors and ER+ tumor-adjacent normal samples. Most of the significantly enriched gene sets identified in ER- tumors showed a similar enrichment pattern among ER- tumor-adjacent normal tissues. Conclusions Our data suggest that moderate alcohol consumption (i.e. 10+ grams/day, equivalent to one or more drinks/day) is associated with several specific and reproducible biological processes and pathways, which adds potential new insight into alcohol-related breast carcinogenesis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13058-017-0901-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wang
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 715 N Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA. .,Present address: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Harlyne J. Norris Research Tower, 1450 Biggy Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
| | - Yujing J Heng
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - A Heather Eliassen
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Rulla M Tamimi
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Aditi Hazra
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 900 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Vincent J Carey
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Christine B Ambrosone
- Department of Cancer Prevention and Control, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm & Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
| | - Victor P de Andrade
- Departamento de Patologia, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, SP, 01509-900, Brazil
| | - Adam Brufsky
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 300 Halket Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Fergus J Couch
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Tari A King
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Francesmary Modugno
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 300 Halket Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Celine M Vachon
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - David J Hunter
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Andrew H Beck
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Susan E Hankinson
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 715 N Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.,Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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4
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Kopp TI, Vogel U, Dragsted LO, Tjonneland A, Ravn-Haren G. Association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in the antioxidant genes CAT, GR and SOD1, erythrocyte enzyme activities, dietary and life style factors and breast cancer risk in a Danish, prospective cohort study. Oncotarget 2017; 8:62984-62997. [PMID: 28968965 PMCID: PMC5609897 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to estrogens and alcohol consumption - the two only well-established risk factors for breast cancer - are capable of causing oxidative stress, which has been linked to progression of breast cancer. Here, five functional polymorphisms in the antioxidant genes SOD1, CAT and GSR were investigated in 703 breast cancer case-control pairs in the Danish, prospective “Diet, Cancer and Health” cohort together with gene-environment interactions between the polymorphisms, enzyme activities and intake of fruits and vegetables, alcohol and smoking in relation to breast cancer risk. Our results showed that genetically determined variations in the antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD1, CAT and GSR were not associated with risk of breast cancer per se. However, intake of alcohol, fruit and vegetables, and smoking status interacted with some of the polymorphisms in relation to breast cancer risk. Four polymorphisms were strongly associated with enzyme activity, but there was no interaction between any of the studied environmental factors and the polymorphisms in relation to enzyme activity. Additionally, single measurement of enzyme activity at entry to the cohort was not associated with risk of breast cancer. Our results therefore suggest that the antioxidant enzyme activities studied here are not major determinants of breast cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tine Iskov Kopp
- Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup, Denmark.,Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.,National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Søborg, Denmark
| | - Ulla Vogel
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars Ove Dragsted
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Gitte Ravn-Haren
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Søborg, Denmark
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5
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Zhao M, Howard EW, Parris AB, Guo Z, Zhao Q, Yang X. Alcohol promotes migration and invasion of triple-negative breast cancer cells through activation of p38 MAPK and JNK. Mol Carcinog 2016; 56:849-862. [PMID: 27533114 DOI: 10.1002/mc.22538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Although alcohol is an established breast cancer risk factor, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Previous studies examined the general association between alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk; however, the risk for different breast cancer subtypes has been rarely reported. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer lacking hormone receptors and HER2 expression, and having poor prognosis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of TNBC etiology remains a significant challenge. In this study, we investigated cellular responses to alcohol in two TNBC cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468. Our results showed that alcohol at low concentrations (0.025-0.1% v/v) induced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in 1% FBS-containing medium. Molecular analysis indicated that these phenotypic changes were associated with alcohol-induced reactive oxygen species production and increased p38 and JNK phosphorylation. Likewise, p38 or JNK inhibition attenuated alcohol-induced cell migration and invasion. We revealed that alcohol treatment activated/phosphorylated NF-κB regulators and increased transcription of NF-κB-targeted genes. While examining the role of acetaldehyde, the major alcohol metabolite, in alcohol-associated responses in TNBC cells, we saw that acetaldehyde induced cell migration, invasion, and increased phospho-p38, phospho-JNK, and phospho-IκBα in a pattern similar to alcohol treatment. Taken together, we established that alcohol promotes TNBC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. The underlying mechanisms involve the induction of oxidative stress and the activation of NF-κB signaling. In particular, the activation of p38 and JNK plays a pivotal role in alcohol-induced cellular responses. These results will advance our understanding of alcohol-mediated development and promotion of TNBC. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Zhao
- Department of Biology, Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina
| | - Erin W Howard
- Department of Biology, Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina
| | - Amanda B Parris
- Department of Biology, Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina
| | - Zhiying Guo
- Department of Biology, Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina
| | - Qingxia Zhao
- Department of Biology, Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina
| | - Xiaohe Yang
- Department of Biology, Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, Kannapolis, North Carolina
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6
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Shield KD, Soerjomataram I, Rehm J. Alcohol Use and Breast Cancer: A Critical Review. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2016; 40:1166-81. [PMID: 27130687 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to outline the biological pathways of alcohol-attributable breast cancer, the epidemiological risk relationship between alcohol consumption and breast cancer, and the global burden of breast cancer incidence and mortality attributable to alcohol consumption, with a focus on light drinking. First, the literature regarding the biological mechanisms of how alcohol affects the risk of breast cancer was reviewed and summarized. Second, a search of meta-analyses that evaluated the risk relationship between alcohol consumption and breast cancer was conducted. Last, the burden of alcohol-attributable breast cancer incidence and mortality was estimated by means of a Population-Attributable Fraction methodology. Data on alcohol consumption were obtained from the Global Information System on Alcohol and Health, and data on cancer incidence and mortality were obtained from the GLOBOCAN database. Alcohol consumption affects breast cancer risk through the alteration in hormone levels and the associated biological pathways, the metabolism of ethanol resulting in carcinogens, and the inhibition of the one carbon metabolism pathway. The systematic review found 15 meta-analyses on the risk relationship between alcohol consumption (also light consumption) and the risk of breast cancer. All but 2 of these analyses showed a dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of breast cancer. An estimated 144,000 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 88,000 to 200,000) breast cancer cases and 38,000 (95% CI: 2,400 to 53,000) breast cancer deaths globally in 2012 were attributable to alcohol, with 18.8% of these cases and 17.5% of these deaths affecting women who were light alcohol consumers. All levels of evidence showed a risk relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of breast cancer, even at low levels of consumption. Due to this strong relationship, and to the amount of alcohol consumed globally, the incidence of and mortality from alcohol-attributable breast cancer is large.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D Shield
- Section of Cancer Surveillance, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - Isabelle Soerjomataram
- Section of Cancer Surveillance, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - Jürgen Rehm
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science (IMS), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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7
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Alcoholic Beverage Consumption and Chronic Diseases. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 13:ijerph13060522. [PMID: 27231920 PMCID: PMC4923979 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13060522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Revised: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological and experimental studies have consistently linked alcoholic beverage consumption with the development of several chronic disorders, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and obesity. The impact of drinking is usually dose-dependent, and light to moderate drinking tends to lower risks of certain diseases, while heavy drinking tends to increase the risks. Besides, other factors such as drinking frequency, genetic susceptibility, smoking, diet, and hormone status can modify the association. The amount of ethanol in alcoholic beverages is the determining factor in most cases, and beverage types could also make an influence. This review summarizes recent studies on alcoholic beverage consumption and several chronic diseases, trying to assess the effects of different drinking patterns, beverage types, interaction with other risk factors, and provide mechanistic explanations.
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8
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Balbo S, Juanes RC, Khariwala S, Baker EJ, Daunais JB, Grant KA. Increased levels of the acetaldehyde-derived DNA adduct N 2-ethyldeoxyguanosine in oral mucosa DNA from Rhesus monkeys exposed to alcohol. Mutagenesis 2016; 31:553-8. [PMID: 27056945 DOI: 10.1093/mutage/gew016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol is a human carcinogen. A causal link has been established between alcohol drinking and cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract, colon, liver and breast. Despite this established association, the underlying mechanisms of alcohol-induced carcinogenesis remain unclear. Various mechanisms may come into play depending on the type of cancer; however, convincing evidence supports the concept that ethanol's major metabolite acetaldehyde may play a major role. Acetaldehyde can react with DNA forming adducts which can serve as biomarkers of carcinogen exposure and potentially of cancer risk. The major DNA adduct formed from this reaction is N (2)-ethylidenedeoxyguanosine, which can be quantified as its reduced form N (2)-ethyl-dG by LC-ESI-MS/MS. To investigate the potential use of N (2)-ethyl-dG as a biomarker of alcohol-induced DNA damage, we quantified this adduct in DNA from the oral, oesophageal and mammary gland tissues from rhesus monkeys exposed to alcohol drinking over their lifetimes and compared it to controls. N (2)-Ethyl-dG levels were significantly higher in the oral mucosa DNA of the exposed animals. Levels of the DNA adduct measured in the oesophageal mucosa of exposed animals were not significantly different from controls. A correlation between the levels measured in the oral and oesophageal DNA, however, was observed, suggesting a common source of formation of the DNA adducts. N (2) -Ethyl-dG was measured in mammary gland DNA from a small cohort of female animals, but no difference was observed between exposed animals and controls. These results support the hypothesis that acetaldehyde induces DNA damage in the oral mucosa of alcohol-exposed animals and that it may play role in the alcohol-induced carcinogenic process. The decrease of N (2)-ethyl-dG levels in exposed tissues further removed from the mouth also suggests a role of alcohol metabolism in the oral cavity, which may be considered separately from ethanol liver metabolism in the investigation of ethanol-related cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rita Cervera Juanes
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | | | - Erich J Baker
- Department of Computer Science, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97356, Waco, TX 76798, USA and
| | - James B Daunais
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Kathleen A Grant
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
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Liu Y, Nguyen N, Colditz GA. Links between alcohol consumption and breast cancer: a look at the evidence. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 11:65-77. [PMID: 25581056 DOI: 10.2217/whe.14.62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol consumption by adult women is consistently associated with risk of breast cancer. Several questions regarding alcohol and breast cancer need to be addressed. Menarche to first pregnancy represents a window of time when breast tissue is particularly susceptible to carcinogens. Youth alcohol consumption is common in the USA, largely in the form of binge drinking and heavy drinking. Whether alcohol intake acts early in the process of breast tumorigenesis is unclear. This review aims to focus on the influences of timing and patterns of alcohol consumption and the effect of alcohol on intermediate risk markers. We also review possible mechanisms underlying the alcohol-breast cancer association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S Euclid Ave, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
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10
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Zakhari S, Hoek JB. Alcohol and breast cancer: reconciling epidemiological and molecular data. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2015; 815:7-39. [PMID: 25427899 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-09614-8_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Epidemiological studies have suggested a possible causative role of alcohol consumption as a risk factor for breast cancer. However, such conclusions should be interpreted with considerable caution for several reasons. While epidemiological studies can help identify the roots of health problems and disease incidence in a community, they are by necessity associative and cannot determine cause and effect relationships. In addition, all these studies rely on self-reporting to determine the amount and type of alcoholic beverage consumed, which introduces recall bias. This is documented in a recent study which stated that the apparent increased risk of cancer among light-moderate drinkers may be "substantially due to underreporting of intake." Another meta-analysis about alcohol and breast cancer declared "the modest size of the association and variation in results across studies leave the causal role of alcohol in question." Furthermore, breast cancer develops over decades; thus, correlations between alcohol consumption and breast cancer cannot be determined in epidemiological studies with windows of alcohol exposure that captures current or recent alcohol intake, after clinical diagnosis. Numerous risk factors are involved in breast carcinogenesis; some are genetic and beyond the control of a woman; others are influenced by lifestyle factors. Breast cancer is a heterogeneous and polygenic disease which is further influenced by epigenetic mechanisms that affect the transciptomes, proteomes and metabolomes, and ultimately breast cancer evolution. Environmental factors add another layer of complexity by their interactions with the susceptibility genes for breast cancer and metabolic diseases. The current state-of-knowledge about alcohol and breast cancer association is ambiguous and confusing to both a woman and her physician. Confronting the huge global breast cancer issue should be addressed by sound science. It is advised that women with or without a high risk for breast cancer should avoid overconsumption of alcohol and should consult with their physician about risk factors involved in breast cancer. Since studies associating moderate alcohol consumption and breast cancer are contradictory, a woman and her physician should weigh the risks and benefits of moderate alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Zakhari
- Former Director, Division of Metabolism and Health Effects, NIAAA, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20852, USA,
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Castro GD, Castro JA. Alcohol drinking and mammary cancer: Pathogenesis and potential dietary preventive alternatives. World J Clin Oncol 2014; 5:713-29. [PMID: 25300769 PMCID: PMC4129535 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i4.713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Revised: 01/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, increasing linearly even with a moderate consumption and irrespectively of the type of alcoholic beverage. It shows no dependency from other risk factors like menopausal status, oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, or genetic history of breast cancer. The precise mechanism for the effect of drinking alcohol in mammary cancer promotion is still far from being established. Studies by our laboratory suggest that acetaldehyde produced in situ and accumulated in mammary tissue because of poor detoxicating mechanisms might play a role in mutational and promotional events. Additional studies indicated the production of reactive oxygen species accompanied of decreases in vitamin E and GSH contents and of glutathione transferase activity. The resulting oxidative stress might also play a relevant role in several stages of the carcinogenic process. There are reported in literature studies showing that plasmatic levels of estrogens significantly increased after alcohol drinking and that the breast cancer risk is higher in receptor ER-positive individuals. Estrogens are known that they may produce breast cancer by actions on ER and also as chemical carcinogens, as a consequence of their oxidation leading to reactive metabolites. In this review we introduce our working hypothesis integrating the acetaldehyde and the oxidative stress effects with those involving increased estrogen levels. We also analyze potential preventive actions that might be accessible. There remains the fact that alcohol drinking is just one of the avoidable causes of breast cancer and that, at present, the suggested acceptable dose for prevention of this risk is of one drink per day.
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12
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Tokarchuk KO, Zaitseva OV. Aldehydes participation in oxidative stress in rat thymocytes in vitro. UKRAINIAN BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL 2014; 86:61-8. [PMID: 25033555 DOI: 10.15407/ubj86.03.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A variety of lipid radicals are formed under oxidative stress development. The further oxidation of these radicals leads to formation of numerous aldehydes. They can form postsynthetic modifications in proteins and nucleic acids that disrupt their functions. In the present study aldehydes role in the formation of oxidative stress parameters in rat thymocytes was investigated. Two models were used: iron-stimulated oxidative stress and exogenous aldehydes exposure to thymocytes. For oxidative stress induction, thymocytes (2 x 10(6) cells/ml HBSS, pH 7.2) were exposed to different concentrations of FeSO4 (20, 30, 40 microM) and ascorbic acid (100 microM) for 6 h. It resulted in increase of levels of aldehydes 29 times (90 +/- 6 nmol/10(7) cells), these changes led to increase of TBARS levels 4.4 times; the levels of protein CO groups 10 times, cell mitochondrial activity and low-molecular weight SH groups were decreased 1.5 and 2.3 times, respectively. Treatment with aldehydes acceptor dimedone (200 microM) significantly decreased the levels of aldehydes 3.7 times, TBARS 1.6 times and protein CO groups 5 times. It was shown that the levels of cell mitochondrial activity increase 1.4 times and the levels of SH groups 1.8 times. To compare the effects of aldehydes in induction of oxidative stress, thymocytes (2 x 10(6) cells/ml HBSS, pH 7.2) were exposed to 50-600 microM formaldehyde (FA), 50-600 microM glyoxal (GL), 50-600 microM methylglyoxal (MGL), 1-15 microM acrolein (ACR) for 6 h. TBARS levels were increased for FA 1.3 times and for other aldehydes about 5-7 times. The levels of protein CO groups were increase for FA 3.7 times, for MGL 7 times, for GL 13 times, for ACR 22 times. Levels of SH groups were decreased for FA 1.5 times, for MGL 2.6 times, for GL 3 times, for ACR 9 times. A decrease of cell mitochondrial activity 1.5 times observe for all aldehydes. Obtained results prove the aldehydes participation in the formation of oxidative stress parameters and their capability to oxidative stress induction in the rat thymocytes.
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Seitz HK, Pelucchi C, Bagnardi V, La Vecchia C. Epidemiology and pathophysiology of alcohol and breast cancer: Update 2012. Alcohol Alcohol 2012; 47:204-12. [PMID: 22459019 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/ags011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS To update epidemiological data on alcohol and breast cancer, with special emphasis on light alcohol consumption, and to review mechanisms of alcohol mediated mammary carcinogenesis. METHODS For epidemiological data, in November 2011 we performed a literature search in various bibliographic databases, and we conducted a meta-analysis of data on light alcohol drinking. Relevant mechanistic studies were also reviewed to November 2011. RESULTS A significant increase of the order of 4% in the risk of breast cancer is already present at intakes of up to one alcoholic drink/day. Heavy alcohol consumption, defined as three or more drinks/day, is associated with an increased risk by 40-50%. This translates into up to 5% of breast cancers attributable to alcohol in northern Europe and North America for a total of approximately 50,000 alcohol-attributable cases of breast cancer worldwide. Up to 1-2% of breast cancers in Europe and North America are attributable to light drinking alone, given its larger prevalence in most female populations when compared with heavy drinking. Alcohol increases estrogen levels, and estrogens may exert its carcinogenic effect on breast tissue either via the ER or directly. Other mechanisms may include acetaldehyde, oxidative stress, epigenetic changes due to a disturbed methyl transfer and decreased retinoic acid concentrations associated with an altered cell cycle. CONCLUSIONS Women should not exceed one drink/day, and women at elevated risk for breast cancer should avoid alcohol or consume alcohol occasionally only.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmut K Seitz
- Centre of Alcohol Research, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
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Buthet LR, Bietto FM, Castro JA, Castro GD. Metabolism of ethanol to acetaldehyde by rat uterine horn subcellular fractions. Hum Exp Toxicol 2011; 30:1785-94. [PMID: 21257642 DOI: 10.1177/0960327110396537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Controversial studies from others suggested that alcohol intake could be associated with some deleterious effects in the uterus. Not all the effects of alcohol drinking on female reproductive organs can be explained in terms of endocrine disturbances. Deleterious effect of alcohol or its metabolites in situ could also play a role. Accordingly, we found a metabolism of alcohol to acetaldehyde in the rat uterine horn tissue cytosolic fraction mediated by xanthine oxidoreductase, requiring a purine cosubstrate and inhibited by allopurinol. This activity was detected by histochemistry in the epithelium and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was detected in the muscular layer and in the serosa. There was a microsomal process, not requiring NADPH and of enzymatic nature, oxygen-dependent and inhibited by diethyldithiocarbamate, diphenyleneiodonium and partially sensitive to esculetin and nordihydroguaiaretic acid. The presence of metabolic pathways in the uterine horn able to generate acetaldehyde, accompanied by a low capacity to destroy it through aldehyde dehydrogenase, led to acetaldehyde accumulation in the uterus during ethanol exposure. Results suggest that any acetaldehyde produced in situ or arriving to the uterine horn via blood would remain in this organ sufficiently to have the opportunity to react with critical molecules to cause deleterious effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara R Buthet
- Centro de Investigaciones Toxicológicas (CEITOX, CITEFA-CONICET) Juan B. de La Salle 4397, B1603ALO Villa Martelli, Argentina
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