[Ethanol as a risk factor in the pathogenesis of precancerous states and changes in the gastric mucous membrane].

The paper presents results of the epidemiological, clinical and experimental data regarding the link between alcohol abuse and cancer that demonstrate an important role of ethanol in stomach cancerogenesis. The role of ethanol is more evident in stomach as it is the organ exposed more directly and often to higher ethanol concentrations. Ethanol may develop its detrimental activity in carcinogenesis through several mechanisms: by its solvent effects, by inducing alimentary and immunological deficiencies, by acting as a vehicle for carcinogens, by facilitating their activation or by inhibiting DNA repair.