Possible mechanisms by which alcohol may influence the development of oralcancer - a review

Although pure ethanol has never been shown to be carcinogenic in laboratory experiments, alcoholic beverages are now recognised as being important aet iological factors in the development of oral cancer. Despite this, the exac t mechanism by which alcohol may exert an influence upon the oral mucosa ha s received less attention. An overview of the association of alcohol and or al cancer, both in combination with tobacco and without, is provided and co nsideration given to some of the pathways by which alcohol exerts its effec t upon the oral mucosa. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.