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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Alcohol is a well-established risk factor for breast cancer, even when consumed in moderation. Now, new animal studies confirm alcohol consumption stimulates tumor growth and malignancy of breast cancer.
Researchers at the University of Mississippi fed six-week-old female mice drinking water containing 1 percent of alcohol (EtOH) for four weeks. The amount of alcohol given to the mice was equivalent to two drinks per day for humans. The control group of mice received only plain drinking water. In the second week of the experiment, the researchers injected the mammary gland of the mice with mouse breast cancer cells. By the end of the experiment, they isolated the tumor in order to measure its size.
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The research team found moderate alcohol consumption significantly increased the size of the breast cancer tumors in mice. The alcohol also increased the density of the tumors. They study did not show any significant weight changes caused by the alcohol intake.
This was the first animal study of its kind to be conducted, and it confirms alcohol consumption is associated with the progression of breast cancer.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Presented at the Experimental Biology meeting in Washington, D.C.; April 28-May 2, 2007
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