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Colorectal cancer
Increased rectal cell proliferation following alcohol abuse
  1. U A Simanowskia,
  2. N Homanna,
  3. M Knühla,
  4. L Arcea,
  5. R Waldherrc,
  6. C Conradtd,
  7. F X Boschb,
  8. H K Seitza
  1. aLaboratory of Alcohol Research, Liver Disease and Nutrition, and Department of Medicine, Salem Medical Centre, Heidelberg, Germany, bDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany, cDepartment of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany, dDepartment of Biostatistics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
  1. Dr H K Seitz, Department of Medicine, Salem Medical Centre, Zeppelinstrasse 11-33, D-69121 Heidelberg, Germany. helmut_karl.seitz{at}urz.uni-heidelberg.de

Abstract

BACKGROUND Epidemiological data indicate an increased risk for rectal cancer following chronic alcohol consumption. As chronic ethanol ingestion leads to rectal hyperregeneration in experimental animals, indicating a state of increased susceptibility to carcinogens, we studied cell proliferation in alcohol abusers.

METHODS Rectal biopsies were taken from 44 heavy drinkers and 26 controls. Cell proliferation, including proliferative compartment size, was measured by immunohistological staining for proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki67, and by in situ hybridisation for histone H3. Quantification of cell proliferation using PCNA staining was evaluated in 27 alcohol abusers and 12 controls. In addition, immunohistology was performed for cytokeratins and gene products of Rb1, bcl-2, and p53.

RESULTS Heavy drinking resulted in increased cell proliferation of the rectal mucosa, as shown by increased detection of different proliferation markers. However, cell differentiation regarding cytokeratin expression patterns was unchanged as well as regulatory factors involved in carcinogenesis and/or apoptosis.

CONCLUSION Chronic alcohol abuse leads to rectal mucosal hyperproliferation in humans, a condition associated with an increased cancer risk.

  • colorectal cancer
  • alcohol
  • rectal mucosa

  • Abbreviations used in this paper

    ALDH
    acetaldehyde dehydrogenase
    AMMN
    azoxymethylmethylnitrosamine
    ck
    cytokeratin
    PC
    proliferative compartment
    PCNA
    proliferative cell nuclear antigen
    PI
    proliferation index

    • https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.49.3.418

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    • Abbreviations used in this paper

      ALDH
      acetaldehyde dehydrogenase
      AMMN
      azoxymethylmethylnitrosamine
      ck
      cytokeratin
      PC
      proliferative compartment
      PCNA
      proliferative cell nuclear antigen
      PI
      proliferation index
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