How does lifetime alcohol consumption affect colorectal cancer risk?

Results from a cancer screening trial indicate that consistent heavy alcohol intake and higher average lifetime drinking are associated with increased risk.

2026-01-26

(Press-News.org) Studies have demonstrated a link between alcohol consumption and an elevated risk of colorectal cancer. New research now reveals that higher lifetime alcohol consumption is also associated with a higher risk, especially for rectal cancer, and that quitting drinking can lower a person’s risk. The findings are published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

When investigators analyzed data on US adults enrolled in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Prostate, Long, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial who did not have cancer at baseline, they observed that 1,679 colorectal cancer cases occurred among 88,092 participants over 20 years of follow-up.

Current drinkers with an average lifetime alcohol intake of ≥14 drinks per week (heavy drinkers) had a 25% higher risk of developing colorectal cancer and a 95% higher risk of developing rectal cancer compared with those with an average lifetime alcohol intake of <1 drink per week (light drinkers).

When further considering drinking consistency, heavy drinking throughout adulthood was linked to a 91% higher risk of colorectal cancer compared with consistent light drinking. In contrast, no evidence of increased colorectal cancer risk was observed among former drinkers, and former drinkers had lower odds of developing noncancerous colorectal tumors, or adenomas (which may go on to become cancerous) than current drinkers averaging <1 drink per week, suggesting that alcohol cessation may lower individuals’ risks. These data were limited, however.

The association between alcohol consumption and increased risks observed in this and other studies might be explained by carcinogens produced from alcohol metabolism or alcohol’s effects on gut microbes. Additional studies are needed to test whether these mechanisms are involved.

“Our study is one of the first to explore how drinking alcohol over the life course relates to both colorectal adenoma and colorectal cancer risk. While the data on former drinkers were sparse, we were encouraged to see that their risk may return to that of the light drinkers,” said co–senior author Erikka Loftfield, PhD, MPH, of the NCI, part of the National Institutes of Health.

Additional information
NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. A free abstract of this article will be available via the CANCER Newsroom upon online publication. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com

Full Citation:
“Associations of alcohol intake over the lifetime with colorectal adenoma and colorectal cancer risk in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial.” Caitlin P. O’Connell, Sonja I. Berndt, Kenechukwu Chudy-Onwugaje, Andrew Kunzmann, Wen-Yi Huang, Kathryn Hughes Barry, and Erikka Loftfield. CANCER; Published Online: January 26, 2026 (DOI: 10.1002/cncr.70201)
URL Upon Publication: http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/cncr.70201

Author Contact: National Institutes of Health, nihmedia@nih.gov. Reporters may request an interview by completing this form: https://www.hhs.gov/request-for-comment-form/index.html?Agency=NIH.

About the Journal   
CANCER is a peer-reviewed publication of the American Cancer Society integrating scientific information from worldwide sources for all oncologic specialties. The objective of CANCER is to provide an interdisciplinary forum for the exchange of information among oncologic disciplines concerned with the etiology, course, and treatment of human cancer. CANCER is published on behalf of the American Cancer Society by Wiley and can be accessed online. Follow CANCER on X @JournalCancer and Instagram @ACSJournalCancer, and stay up to date with the American Cancer Society Journals on LinkedIn.

About Wiley     
Wiley is a global leader in authoritative content and research intelligence for the advancement of scientific discovery, innovation, and learning. With more than 200 years at the center of the scholarly ecosystem, Wiley combines trusted publishing heritage with AI-powered platforms to transform how knowledge is discovered, accessed, and applied. From individual researchers and students to Fortune 500 R&D teams, Wiley enables the transformation of scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact. From knowledge to impact—Wiley is redefining what's possible in science and learning. Visit us at Wiley.com and Investors.Wiley.com. Follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.

END

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

To reach net-zero, reverse current policy and protect largest trees in Amazon, urge scientists

2026-01-26

At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015, countries around the world committed to striving towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the middle of the 21st century. But achieving this goal is difficult, even for countries boasting extensive forests that could, in principle, act as important carbon sinks if deforestation were halted. Now, a study in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change has shown that in Peru, national forest regulations will need a substantial review if the country is to meet its goal of achieving net-zero by 2050. In particular, ...

Double trouble: Tobacco use and Long COVID

2026-01-26

COVID-19 brought about lasting changes that are still being felt today in the post-pandemic era, with one being the unprecedented side effect known as Long COVID. Long COVID is characterized by symptoms affecting multiple organs and persisting for at least three months or longer after a COVID-19 infection. It has often been reported to be associated with advanced age, being female, obesity, and having other underlying conditions. However, there has not been a clear conclusion in its relation to smoking. A ...

Eating a plant-forward diet is good for your kidneys

2026-01-26

Eating a plant-forward diet and limiting added sugars and fats as part of the EAT–Lancet planetary diet was associated with a reduced risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a large study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.250457. Chronic kidney disease affects about 10% of adults globally and is projected to become the fifth leading cause of death worldwide by 2040. The study was based on data from the UK Biobank, a large-scale long-term study that included 179 508 eligible participants aged 40 to 69 from England, Scotland and Wales, and dietary ...

Elucidating liquid-liquid phase separation under non-equilibrium conditions

2026-01-26

Crystallization is a well-explored natural phenomenon where atoms or molecules arrange themselves into highly organized solid forms called as crystals. This phenomenon has been widely utilized across pharmaceutical and agrochemicals industries, as well as in food industries, to form, separate, and purify pure crystalline materials. The process is usually considered a solid-liquid phase transition, but it can also involve liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). In LLPS, the solution separates out into solute-rich and solute-poor liquid phases. Crucially, this secondary phenomenon can significantly ...

Fecal microbiome and bile acid profiles differ in preterm infants with parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis

2026-01-24

Background and Aims Parenteral nutrition (PN)-associated cholestasis (PNAC) is frequently diagnosed in premature infants; however, not all PN-exposed infants develop PNAC. We propose that, in premature infants receiving PN and varying amounts of enteral feeds, differences in the gut microbiome and fecal bile acid content are associated with PNAC development. This study aimed to examine the fecal microbiome and bile acid content of premature infants on PN to determine if there is a relationship with the development ...

The Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) receives €5 million donation for AI research

2026-01-24

The Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) has received a donation of 5 million euros from Canadian philanthropist and entrepreneur Garrett Camp to help advance AI as a trustworthy, human-centered technology that benefits society. ISTA’s commitment to responsible AI, coupled with its focus on frontier research and interdisciplinary culture, make it perfectly placed to pursue this goal. Camp – who is the creator of the not-for-profit Camp.org research organization and co-founder of the ride-hailing Uber app – visited the ISTA campus on January 13 to sign the donation agreement with President Martin Hetzer and Managing Director Georg Schneider. “With ...

Study finds link between colorblindness and death from bladder cancer

2026-01-24

Recognizing the sight of blood in urine, the most common first sign of bladder cancer, is often the impetus that leads people to a diagnosis. But for those with colorblindness, who usually have difficulty seeing red, that warning sign is more likely to go down the toilet unnoticed. Now a study by Stanford Medicine researchers and collaborators has found that missing this early sign can have serious health consequences. In an analysis of health records, they discovered that people with bladder cancer who ...

Tailored treatment approach shows promise for reducing suicide and self-harm risk in teens and young adults

2026-01-23

A new study by UCLA and Kaiser Permanente Northwest’s Center for Health Research demonstrates a health care approach matching treatment intensity to individual risk levels can significantly reduce self-harm and depression among at-risk adolescents and young adults while improving patient satisfaction with care. The randomized clinical trial, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, is the largest study to date evaluating a stratified stepped-care approach for reducing suicide risk in young Americans. Suicide ...

Call for papers: AI in biochar research for sustainable land ecosystems

2026-01-23

Scientists are invited to submit their latest research to a new special issue focusing on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and biochar for sustainable land management. The special issue, titled "Artificial Intelligence in Biochar Ecological Applications: Advances for Soil Carbon and Sustainability in Agricultural, Forest, and Grassland Ecosystems," will be published in the journal Biochar. Agricultural land, forests, and grasslands cover most of the Earth's terrestrial surface, playing a central ...

Methane eating microbes turn a powerful greenhouse gas into green plastics, feed, and fuel

2026-01-23

Methane eating microbes could help turn a powerful greenhouse gas into everyday products like animal feed, green plastics, and cleaner fuels, according to a new scientific review of fast moving research on these unusual bacteria. The study highlights how methane consuming communities, known as methanotrophs, are emerging as biological “gatekeepers” that can both curb climate warming emissions and convert waste gases into valuable resources. “Our work shows that methanotrophs are ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Major open access publisher appoints new office head in Korea