Alcohol cessation and breast cancer risk stratified by hormone receptor status

Breast Cancer Res. 2024 Dec 5;26(1):179. doi: 10.1186/s13058-024-01937-z.

Abstract

Because alcohol consumption is an established cause of female breast cancer, understanding whether cessation affects risk is of public health importance. In a recent meta-analysis, compared with continuing consumption, the relative risk (RR) for cessation was 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.88-1.01). Because intake of alcohol is more consistently associated with estrogen receptor positive (ER+) than negative (ER-) subtypes, we conducted a meta-analysis of alcohol cessation for ER-specific breast cancer risk using data from three cohort studies and one population-based case-control study (ER + n = 3,793; ER- n = 627) with information reported on cessation and ER status. Compared with continuing consumption, cessation was associated with lower risk of ER+ (RR = 0.88, 95%CI, 0.79-0.98) but not ER- (RR = 1.23, 95%CI, 0.98-1.55) breast cancer. These results suggest that, compared with continuing consumption, alcohol cessation may reduce ER + but not ER- breast cancer risk. However, research that considers duration of cessation is warranted.

Keywords: Alcohol cessation; Alcoholic beverages; Breast cancer; Estrogen receptor; Hormone receptor; Risk reduction.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Abstinence
  • Alcohol Drinking* / adverse effects
  • Breast Neoplasms* / epidemiology
  • Breast Neoplasms* / etiology
  • Breast Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Estrogen* / metabolism
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism
  • Risk
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone