The interplay between alcohol consumption, oral hygiene, ALDH2 and ADH1B in the risk of head and neck cancer.

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is an established risk factor for head and neck cancer (HNC). The major carcinogen from alcohol is acetaldehyde, which may be produced by humans or by oral microorganisms through the metabolism of ethanol. To account for the different sources of acetaldehyde production, the current study examined the interplay between alcohol consumption, oral hygiene (as a proxy measure for the growth of oral microorganisms), and alcohol-metabolizing genes (ADH1B and ALDH2) in the risk of HNC. We found that both the fast (*2/*2) and the slow (*1/*1+ *1/*2) ADH1B genotypes increased the risk of HNC due to alcohol consumption, and this association differed according to the slow/non-functional ALDH2 genotypes (*1/*2+ *2/*2) or poor oral hygiene. In persons with the fast ADH1B genotype, the HNC risk associated with alcohol drinking was increased for those with the slow/non-functional ALDH2 genotypes. For those with the slow ADH1B genotypes, oral hygiene appeared to play an important role; the highest magnitude of an increased HNC risk in alcohol drinkers occurred among those with the worst oral hygiene. This is the first study to show that the association between alcohol drinking and HNC risk may be modified by the interplay between genetic polymorphisms of ADH1B and ALDH2 and oral hygiene. Although it is important to promote abstinence from or reduction of alcohol drinking to decrease the occurrence of HNC, improving oral hygiene practices may provide additional benefit.

• Authors: Sen-Tien Tsai, Tung-Yiu Wong, Chun-Yen Ou, Sheen-Yie Fang, Ken-Chung Chen, Jenn-Ren Hsiao, Cheng-Chih Huang, Wei-Ting Lee, Hung-I Lo, Jehn-Shyun Huang, Jiunn-Liang Wu, Chia-Jui Yen, Wei-Ting Hsueh, Yuan-Hua Wu, Ming-Wei Yang, Forn-Chia Lin, Jang-Yang Chang, Kwang-Yu Chang, Shang-Yin Wu, Hsiao-Chen Liao, Chen-Lin Lin, Yi-Hui Wang, Ya-Ling Weng, Han-Chien Yang, Jeffrey S Chang
• Journal: International journal of cancer (Int J Cancer) Vol. 135 Issue 10 Pg. 2424-36 (Nov 15 2014) ISSN: 1097-0215 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24719202 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2014 UICC.

Chemical References

• ADH1B protein, human
• Alcohol Dehydrogenase
• ALDH2 protein, human
• Aldehyde Dehydrogenase
• Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Alcohol Dehydrogenase (genetics)
• Alcohol Drinking (adverse effects)
• Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (genetics)
• Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (epidemiology, etiology)
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Genotype
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (epidemiology, etiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Oral Hygiene (adverse effects)
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Polymorphism, Genetic (genetics)
• Prognosis
• Risk Factors
• Smoking (adverse effects)
• Young Adult