An international team of researchers, led by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), has published findings in PLOS Medicine revealing that alcohol consumption is independently associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer—even when accounting for sex and smoking status.
The study pooled data from 30 large population-based cohorts across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America, involving nearly 2.5 million individuals without cancer at the start of the study. Participants were followed for a median period of 16 years, during which over 10,000 cases of pancreatic cancer were recorded.
“Alcohol consumption is a known carcinogen, but until now, the evidence linking it specifically to pancreatic cancer has been considered inconclusive,” said Dr Pietro Ferrari, Head of the Nutrition and Metabolism Branch at IARC and senior author of the study. “Our findings provide new evidence that pancreatic cancer may be another cancer type associated with alcohol consumption, a connection that has been underestimated until now.”
The research found that each additional 10 grams of alcohol consumed per day—roughly equivalent to one standard drink—was associated with a 3% increase in the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
More detailed findings include:
- Among women, moderate alcohol intake (15–30 grams per day) was linked to a 12% higher risk compared to low intake (0.1–5 grams per day).
- Among men, those consuming 30–60 grams daily had a 15% higher risk, while those drinking more than 60 grams per day faced a 36% increased risk.
Importantly, the association held true even for non-smokers, suggesting that alcohol on its own—independent of tobacco use—is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.
Although pancreatic cancer ranks as only the 12th most common cancer globally, it is responsible for about 5% of all cancer-related deaths, due to its typically late diagnosis and high mortality rate.
Incidence and mortality are especially high in developed regions such as Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Eastern Asia—four to five times higher than in other parts of the world.
“While we know of some risk factors like smoking, obesity, chronic pancreatitis, and diabetes, the causes of pancreatic cancer are still not fully understood,” said Dr Ferrari. “Our study contributes to a clearer picture by highlighting alcohol consumption as a potential contributor.”
Dr Ferrari emphasised the importance of further research into lifetime patterns of alcohol use, including consumption in early adulthood and binge drinking habits, to better understand how these factors may influence cancer risk.
The findings underscore the broader public health message about moderating alcohol consumption—not just for liver and oral cancers, but potentially for pancreatic cancer as well.
