April 30 : A new study has shown how alcohol-induced breast cancer develops in women.

Alcohol (EtOH) consumption is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer in women.

The study was conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Mississippi Medical Centre.

As part of the study, researchers developed a novel mouse breast cancer model to mimic human breast cancer disease. Estrogen receptor-positive breast adenocarcinoma cells were subcutaneously injected near the pad of the fourth mammary gland of female immunocompetant mice (C57BL/6).

The six-week-old female mice were fed with moderate EtOH (one percent in drinking water) for four weeks, the equivalent of two drinks per day in humans. The control mice received regular drinking water only.

In the second week, mouse breast cancer cells were injected at cite referenced above. At the end of the experiment, the tumours were isolated to measure tumour size, examine intratumoral micro-vessel (IM) density, and assess VEGF protein levels.

These steps were taken to determine the effects of EtOH intake in physiologically relevant doses on tumor growth and angiogenesis in mouse breast cancer.

Researchers found that moderate alcohol consumption significantly increased the tumour size of breast cancer and micro-vessel density in mice vs. control mice.

A significant increase in tissue protein levels of VEGF was also found in the tumours of the mice treated with EtOH vs. control group. EtOH intake did not cause significant changes in the body weight of the mice.

This study presents the first animal model to confirm that alcohol consumption stimulates tumour growth and malignancy of breast cancer, and reveals some of the mechanisms of alcohol-induced breast cancer. The findings demonstrate that even moderate alcohol consumption significantly stimulates tumour growth of breast cancer and that induction of tumour angiogenesis and VEGF expressions are mechanisms which are associated with the progression of this deadly disease.

The findings of the research will be presented at the American Physiological Society’s annual meeting. (ANI)