Alcohol consumption and upper aerodigestive tract squamous cell carcinoma: evidence from 28 prospective cohorts

Researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and partner institutions have found that alcohol consumption is positively associated with the risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancers, even at low intake levels. The results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The study estimated the relationship between alcohol intake and the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract, including cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and oesophagus. The scientists also evaluated associations by smoking status, sex, geographical region, body mass index, and type of alcoholic beverage. The researchers analysed combined data from 28 prospective cohort studies within the Pooling Project of Prospective Studies of Diet and Cancer, which comprises more than 2.3 million participants followed up for a median of 15.5 years.

Compared with light alcohol consumption (0.1–<5 grams of ethanol per day), hazard ratios increased progressively with higher consumption, with a hazard ratio of > 3 for consumption of ≥ 60 grams of ethanol per day. Each additional 10 grams of ethanol per day was associated with a 13% higher risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancers.

Stronger associations were observed for cancers of the hypopharynx and oesophagus, and the associations were slightly stronger among women than among men and among individuals with normal body weight than among those with overweight or obesity. Very importantly, the relationship was observed among never smokers, confirming alcohol as an independent risk factor for these cancer types. The new findings underscore the carcinogenic potential of alcohol even at low consumption levels and reinforce public health recommendations to limit alcohol intake as a means to reduce the burden of upper aerodigestive tract cancers worldwide.

Ebrahimi E, Naudin S, Dimou N, Mayén AL, Wang M, Abnet CC, et al.
Alcohol consumption and upper aerodigestive tract squamous cell carcinoma: evidence from 28 prospective cohorts
J Natl Cancer Inst. Published online 22 September 2025;
https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djaf230

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