The alcohol flushing response: an unrecognized risk factor for esophageal cancer from alcohol consumption

• Published in: PLoS medicine Vol. 6; no. 3; p. e50
• Main Authors: Brooks, Philip J, Enoch, Mary-Anne, Goldman, David, Li, Ting-Kai, Yokoyama, Akira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.03.2009; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acetaldehyde - metabolism; Adult; Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects; Alcohol Drinking - psychology; Alcoholism - epidemiology; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase - deficiency; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase - genetics; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase - physiology; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial; Asian Continental Ancestry Group - genetics; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - chemically induced; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - epidemiology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - ethnology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - prevention & control; Demographic aspects; DNA Damage; Drinking of alcoholic beverages; Early Diagnosis; Esophageal cancer; Esophageal Neoplasms - chemically induced; Esophageal Neoplasms - epidemiology; Esophageal Neoplasms - ethnology; Esophageal Neoplasms - genetics; Esophageal Neoplasms - prevention & control; Ethanol - adverse effects; Ethanol - pharmacokinetics; Far East - epidemiology; Flushing - chemically induced; Flushing - ethnology; Flushing - genetics; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genetics and Genomics; Health aspects; Humans; Middle Aged; Oncology; Patient Education as Topic; Public Health and Epidemiology; Research in Translation; Risk Factors; Social Behavior; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; Flushing; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Ethanol; Alcoholism; Humans; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Alcohol Drinking; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase; Acetaldehyde; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Esophageal Neoplasms; Social Behavior; Questionnaires; Adult; DNA Damage; Far East; Early Diagnosis; Patient Education as Topic
• ISSN: 1549-1676; 1549-1277; 1549-1676
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000050

Philip Brooks and colleagues discuss evidence linking the alcohol flushing response (predominantly due to ALDH2 deficiency) with a much higher risk of esophageal cancer from alcohol consumption.