Multiple Primary Malignancies in Patients with Alcoholic Liver Disease

Abstract

Two patients, each with three primary malignant neoplasms are presented. In an effort to identify a possible common denominator of induction of these tumors, it was found that both patients were alcoholics with liver disease, and that both had impaired delayed hypersensitivity reactions. The possibility of an increased susceptibility to cancer among alcoholics with liver disease is noted and the need for careful follow-up of these patients is suggested.

The Effect of Chronic Ethanol Intake on the Growth and Spread of Some Murine Tumors

“…Considerable epidemiological evidence exists to suggest that the development of certain types of tumor might be enhanced by alcohol consumption [1][2][3]. In a previous experiment [4,5] the effect of alcohol intake upon the enzyme systems concern ed with the activation and detoxication of carcinogens was investigated.…”

The Effect of Chronic Alcohol Intake Upon the Hepatic Microsomal Carcinogen-activation System

“…Considerable epidemological evidence exists to indicate that alcohol intake potentiates the carcinogenic effect of smoking [1] and that alcohol abuse increases the likelihood of develop ing various types of tumors [2][3][4], Conversely, some statistical analyses investigating the cause of death in alcoholics report no clear correlation between alcohol intake and the develop ment of various tumors [5], Attempts to elucidate the inter action between ethanol and the microsomal ethanol oxidising system (MEOS) is complicated by the fact that differing animal models have been used for administration; alcohol being given either isocalorifically as a replacement for car bohydrate or as a dietary supplement [6], Recent evidence suggests that the dietary lipid levels have an important role in determining the level of ethanol-induced stimulation of the MEOS [7], Generally, administration of ethanol at any dose level above 5 % v/v is regarded as the chronic intake level which will induce liver damage [7], In this experiment the effect of chronic ethanol administration upon the activation and subsequent DNA binding of the ubiquitous carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene is examined. The effect of ethanol pre-treat ment upon the development of benzo(a)pyreneinduced tumors was also investigated.…”