alcohol intake association w bc risk seems to be hormone receptor dependent
 

: Int J Cancer. 2007 Dec 7 [Epub ahead of print]
Alcohol intake and risk of breast cancer defined by estrogen and progesterone receptor status-A meta-analysis of epidemiological studies.

Suzuki R, Orsini N, Mignone L, Saji S, Wolk A.
Division of Nutritional Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
The association between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of breast cancer has been established. It is still unclear however, whether this relationship differs across the estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) tumors subtypes. To provide a quantitative assessment of the association between alcohol intake and the risk of ER-/PR-defined breast cancer, we conducted a meta-analysis of cohort and case-control studies. Studies were identified by a literature search of PubMed through April 20, 2007 and by searching the reference lists of relevant articles. Summarized risk estimates (REs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. The summarized results of the meta-analysis comparing the highest versus the lowest consumption categories showed statistically significant higher risks of developing all ER+ (27%), all ER- (14%), ER+PR+ (22%) and ER+PR- (28%), but not ER-PR- tumors. The dose-response meta-analysis showed that an increase in alcohol consumption of 10 g of ethanol per day was associated with statistically significant increased risks for all ER+ (12%), all ER- (7%), ER+PR+ (11%) and ER+PR- (15%), but not ER-PR-. A statistically significant heterogeneity of the REs across all ER+ versus ER-PR- was observed (p(heterogeneity) = 0.02). The summarized results from studies with adjustment for postmenopausal hormone use, body mass index and family history of breast cancer were higher and statistically significantly different from those without. The observed positive associations with alcohol for ER+PR+ and ER+PR- tumors cannot be explained by estrogen-dependent pathway only. Further studies need to clarify the biological mechanisms. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
PMID: 18067133 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

A good reminder during the Holiday season. I have three parties in three days to attend. Will limit myself to a glass of wine at each party, I guess. Sigh.

How many drinks is 10g of ethanol? Does anyone know?

Does this still apply if we have no ovaries AND are on an AI? If there is no estrogen, then we should have nothing to worry about right? (or wrong?)

Debra,

"The observed positive associations with alcohol for ER+PR+ and ER+PR- tumors cannot be explained by estrogen-dependent pathway only."

I think they are saying that ER is only part of the story here - there is another mechanism at work that has yet to be elucidated.

Hopeful

Margerie
I Googled your question.
http://www.alcohol.org.nz/WhatsInAStandardDrink.aspx
The answer is one beer, one glass of wine, one 30 ml of alchol.
Not much.
Janet/FL