"After rigorously analyzing the existing evidence, we strongly believe it's time to add pancreatic cancer to the list of alcohol-related cancers."
— Tim Naimi, CISUR Director
New Analysis Links Alcohol to Pancreatic Cancer Risk
A systematic review and meta-analysis led by researchers at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR) at the University of Victoria has uncovered a significant association between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The findings were published in the International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research.
Key Findings
The research team analyzed existing cohort studies, specifically selecting those that avoided "former drinker bias"—a common flaw where individuals who quit drinking are incorrectly classified as abstainers. After adjusting for key factors such as age, smoking, and socioeconomic status, the analysis revealed a clear dose-response relationship between alcohol intake and pancreatic cancer risk.
- Consuming more than 24 grams of alcohol per day (slightly less than two standard Canadian drinks) was associated with a 10–30% increase in the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Context
- The World Health Organization currently lists seven types of cancer as linked to alcohol consumption, including mouth, breast, and colon cancer.
- Pancreatic cancer has a particularly low survival rate, with approximately 12% of Canadians surviving five years after diagnosis.
Statements from Researchers
Tim Naimi, CISUR director and study co-author, emphasized the growing body of evidence:
"Right now, the World Health Organization lists seven types of cancer, including mouth, breast and colon cancer, as being linked to alcohol consumption. There has been a growing body of evidence pointing to alcohol consumption as a cause of pancreatic cancer, and this analysis is a significant contribution to that evidence."
Naimi added:
"After rigorously analyzing the existing evidence, we strongly believe it's time to add pancreatic cancer to the list of alcohol-related cancers."
Jinhui Zhao, CISUR scientist and lead author, explained the importance of correcting for bias in previous studies:
"Often people who identify as abstainers in these cohort studies used to be heavy drinkers who quit due to health reasons, meaning they may still be feeling long-term effects of alcohol use, including cancer cases. There has been a push in recent years to take this bias into account to truly measure alcohol's health impacts."