Embryos exposed to ethanol had more than eight times the level of cancer
cell invasion of blood vessels compared to the control group.

December 13, 2004 /PSA Rising/ For the first time scientists have
demonstrated a model that may explain how alcohol stimulates tumor
growth. Their study, published in the January 15, 2005 issue of CANCER,
says alcohol fuels the production of a growth factor that stimulates
blood vessel development in tumors, and that chronic ethanol increased
tumor size and levels of the angiogenic factor and levels of the
angiogenic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in an
experimental model.

For almost a hundred years mounting epidemiological evidence has linked
alcohol use to an increased risk of cancers of the stomach, esophagus,
liver, breast, and colon. Researchers have never developed an adequate
model to explain how ethanol or a metabolite of ethanol may cause
cancer. Hypotheses abound, and include such diverse theories as
acetaldehyde carcinogenicity, dietary imbalances, and impaired nutrient
metabolism and detoxification due to alcohol consumption, activation of
precancerous enzymes, and suppression of the immune system.

Recent data in a cellular model has demonstrated that ethanol increases
cellular production of VEGF, an important signaling protein in blood
vessel growth, particularly in tumors.

Jian-Wei Gu. M.D. from the University of Mississippi Medical Center and
colleagues further investigated the possible mechanism between
ethanol-induced blood vessel growth and VEGF using a chick embryo model.
They exposed chick embryos inoculated with fibrosarcoma cells to saline
or to significant levels of ethanol for nine days. They found that
compared to the saline control group, the embryos exposed to ethanol
experienced increases in tumor size, tumor blood vessel density, cancer
cell infiltration of blood vessels, and VEGF levels.

Tumor volume and intratumoral vascular volume more than doubled. There
was also a significant dose-related increase in VEGF mRNA and protein
expression in tumors and cultured cells.

Embryos exposed to ethanol had more than eight times the level of cancer
cell invasion of blood vessels compared to the control group.

The authors say their findings "support the hypothesis that the
induction of angiogenesis and VEGF expression by ethanol represent an
important mechanism of cancer progression associated with alcoholic
beverage consumption."

Article: "Ethanol Stimulates Tumor Progression and Expression of
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Chick Embryos," Jian-Wei Gu,
Amelia Purser Bailey, Amanda Sartin, Ian Makey, Ann L. Brady, CANCER;
Published Online: December 13, 2004; Print Issue Date: January 15, 2005.
 

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