Chrostek Lech, Szmitkowski Maciej
Zakład Diagnostyki Biochemicznej Akademii Medycznej w Białymstoku.
Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2003 Nov;15(89):487-90.
Chronic alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk for cancer especially of the upper aerodigestive tract and also liver, colorectum and breast. The role of ethanol alone and acetaldehyde in the etiology of many cancers is evident. The concentrations of ethanol and acetaldehyde after alcohol drinking depend on the activity of two main enzymes. The one is the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and the next aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). The different isoenzymes of ADH and ALDH genetically encoded have different catalytic properties. Therefore, the polymorphism of these enzymes might be an risk factor for cancer in the case of chronic alcohol consumption.
