Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology Advance Access originally published online on August 18, 2007
Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2007 37(9):692-700; doi:10.1093/jjco/hym085
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© 2007 Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research
Alcohol Drinking and Total Cancer Risk: An Evaluation Based on a Systematic Review of Epidemiologic Evidence among the Japanese Population
1 Epidemiology and Prevention Division, Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening, National Cancer Center, Tokyo
2 Department of Preventive Medicine/Biostatistics and Medical Decision Making, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya
3 Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu
4 Department of Epidemiology and International Health, Research Institute, International Medical Center of Japan, Tokyo
5 Department of Preventive Medicine, Saga Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga
6 Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
For reprints and all correspondence: Manami Inoue, Epidemiology and Prevention Division, Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening, National Cancer Center, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan. E-mail: mnminoue{at}gan2.res.ncc.go.jp
Received January 15, 2007; accepted May 2, 2007
Background: We conducted a systematic review of epidemiological evidence to evaluate the association between alcohol drinking and total cancer risk among the Japanese population.
Methods: Original data were obtained from MEDLINE searches using PubMed or from searches of the Ichushi database, complemented with manual searches. Evaluation of associations was based on the strength of evidence and the magnitude of association, together with biological plausibility as previously evaluated by the International Agency of Research on Cancer.
Results: Of eight cohort studies identified, six studies, three of which included women, were subjected to evaluation. In men, all six studies showed a weak to moderate positive association between alcohol drinking and total cancer risk. While light drinking had little effect on total cancer risk, heavy drinking of more than 46–69 g of alcohol per day contributed to total cancer risk for most of these Japanese populations. However, no association was reported in women in any of the three studies.
Conclusion: We conclude that there is convincing evidence that alcohol drinking increases the risk of total cancer in the Japanese population, specifically among heavy drinking men.
Key Words: Epidemiol-Prevention • total cancer • alcohol drinking • Japanese • systematic review
Research group members: Shoichiro Tsugane (principal investigator), Manami Inoue, Shizuka Sasazuki, Motoki Iwasaki, Tetsuya Otani (National Cancer Center, Tokyo); Ichiro Tsuji (since 2004), Yoshitaka Tsubono (in 2003), Taichi Shimazu (Tohoku University, Sendai); Yoshikazu Nishino (Miyagi Cancer Research Institute, Natori, Miyagi); Kenji Wakai (Nagoya University, Nagoya); Keitaro Matsuo (since 2006; Aichi Cancer Center, Nagoya); Chisato Nagata (Gifu University, Gifu); Tetsuya Mizoue (International Medical Center of Japan, Tokyo); and Keitaro Tanaka (Saga University, Saga).