Even drinking less may reverse precancerous changes

Reducing alcohol consumption or quitting altogether helps prevent the progression of squamous dysplastic lesions, which in turn reduces the risk of developing multiple esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCCs) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCCs), as reported in a study.

The study included 330 patients with newly diagnosed superficial ESCC. All patients were instructed to stop smoking and drinking and to record their drinking and smoking status every 6 months. Chromoendoscopy was also performed every 6 months to evaluate squamous dysplastic lesion, which was clinically visualized as a Lugol-voiding lesion (LVL).

Ninety-eight patients who had no LVL or did not consume alcohol were excluded. Of the 232 patients who remained in the study, 158 quit drinking or reduced their consumption. LVL grade substantially improved in the group of patients who quit or reduced their alcohol consumption.

Multivariate analysis confirmed that continuous cessation or reduction of alcohol consumption was strongly associated with improved grade of LVL (hazard ratio [HR], 8.5, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.7–153.8; p=0.0053).

Of note, an improvement in LVL conferred a significant protective effect on the risk of developing multiple ESCCs and HNSCCs (HR, 0.2, 95 percent CI, 0.04–0.7; p=0.009). Conversely, higher grade of LVL conveyed a more than threefold increased risk of multiple ESCCs and HNSCCs (HR, 3.7, 95 percent CI, 2.2–6.4; p<0.0001).