Alcohol Consumption and Breast Cancer Survival: A Metaanalysis of Cohort Studies

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Evidence for associations between alcohol consumption with breast cancer survival are conflicting, so we conducted the present meta-analysis. Methods: Comprehensive searches were conducted to find cohort studies that evaluated the relationship between alcohol consumption with breast cancer survival. Data were analyzed with meta-analysis software. Results: We included 25 cohort studies. The meta-analysis results showed that alcohol consumption was not associated with increased breast cancer mortality and recurrence after pooling all data from highest versus lowest comparisons. Subgroup analyses showed that pre-diagnostic or post-diagnostic consumpotion, and ER status did not affect the relationship with breast cancer mortality and recurrence. Although the relationships of different alcohol consumption with breast cancer mortality and recurrence were not significant, there seemed to be a dose-response relationship of alcohol consumption with breast cancer mortality and recurrence. Only alcohol consumption of >20 g/d was associated with increased breast cancer mortality, but not with increased breast cancer recurrence. Conclusion: Although our meta-analysis showed alcohol drinking was not associated with increased breast cancer mortality and recurrence, there seemed to be a dose-response relationship of alcohol consumption with breast cancer mortality and recurrence and alcohol consumption of >20 g/d was associated with increased breast cancer mortality.

Relation of Alcohol/Tobacco use with Metastasis, Hormonal (Estrogen and Progesterone) Receptor Status and c-erbB2 Protein in Mammary Ductal Carcinoma

“…The majority of authors hold that use of either tobacco or alcohol constitutes a risk factor for breast cancer, for a prognostic of a shorter survival time after a mastectomy, and for an increase in rates of tumor recurrence, based on empirical conclusions from large population studies and meta-analysis (Stefani et al, 2011;Park et al, 2012;Gou et al, 2013). However, the risk of metastasis and the status of the tumor markers associated with the use of alcohol and/or tobacco has been less studied.…”

“…As of 2004, there was an increase in the number of individual studies and systematic reviews with meta-analysis, and they left little doubt about the association between breast cancer and the use of tobacco and/or alcohol. Alcohol consumption above all was clearly associated with this malady (de Menezes et al, 2013;Gao et al, 2013;Gou et al, 2013).…”

“…However, since the end of the 1980's, a multitude of articles have been published about the fact that the regular 1 consumption of alcohol and use of tobacco represent risk factors for breast cancer (Stefani et al, 2011;CardenasRodriguez et al, 2012;de Menezes et al, 2013;Gao et al, 2013;Gou et al, 2013). Interestingly, some of the first studies actually showed a reduction of the risk of breast cancer with tobacco use (Meara et al, 1989) or alcohol consumption (Adami et al, 1988;Liu, M. et al, 2014b), or no association between smoking and breast cancer (Smith et al, 1994), further more, did not find any association between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of cancers of the lung, bladder, endometrium and ovary (de Menezes et al, 2013), and it was also observed that alcohol consumption may be inversely related to thyroid cancer.…”

Lifestyle modifications for patients with breast cancer to improve prognosis and optimize overall health

“…A recent meta-analysis of 14 cohort studies concluded that postdiagnosis alcohol consumption was not associated with breast cancer mortality, although subgroup analyses found that high intake of alcohol (> 20 g/d) was associated with higher breast cancer mortality, with a dose-response association among premenopausal women. 55 A subsequent pooled analysis of four cohort studies reported that alcohol intake of more than one drink daily was associated with a 28% increased risk of late recurrence (> 5 yr after diagnosis) (95% CI 1.01-1.62) among survivors with estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer. 50 Overall, the results are inconclusive.…”

Lack of Effects of Dietary Folate Intake on Risk of Breast Cancer: An Updated Meta-analysis of Prospective Studies

“…As a multifactorial disease, breast cancer is associated not only with environmental and hereditary factors but also dietary factors including folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and alcohol (Ma et al, 2009;Gou et al, 2013;Liu et al, 2013).…”