Ethanol promotes survival and tumor progression of colon cancer cells

In the Western Countries, colon cancer is the third tumor for aggressiveness and incidence after lung and breast/prostate cancer. Different risk factors concur to the development of colon cancer, including genetic factors, inflammation, intestinal microflora composition, as well as lifestyle. Epidemiologic studies correlating alcohol consumption and assert that the risks are 5-fold higher among drinkers compared to nondrinkers. However, the exact mechanisms correlating heavy alcohol drinking and colon cancer are not completely elucidated yet. To shed light on the biochemical mechanisms through which alcohol favors colon cancer progression, we evaluated the effect of high doses of ethanol (1…