Introduction: Both smoking and alcohol consumption have been associated with modestly increased risks of colorectal cancer (CRC). Reports have suggested that these associations may differ by tumor molecular subtype, with stronger associations for microsatellite unstable (MSI-H) tumors.
Methods: We used a population-based case-unaffected sibling design including 2,248 sibships (2,253 cases; 4,486 siblings) recruited to the Colon Cancer Family Registry to evaluate the association between smoking, alcohol consumption, and CRC. Associations were assessed using conditional logistic regression, treating sibship as the matching factor.
Results: Although there were no statistically significant associations between any smoking variable and CRC overall, smoking did confer an increased risk of certain types of CRC. We observed an association between pack-years of smoking and rectal cancer [odds ratio (OR), 1.85; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.23-2.79 for >40 pack-years versus nonsmokers; P(trend) = 0.03], and there was an increased risk of MSI-H CRC with increasing duration of smoking (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.09-3.46 for >30 years of smoking versus nonsmokers). Alcohol intake was associated with a modest increase in risk for CRC overall (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.03-1.44 for 12+ drinks per week versus nondrinkers), with more marked increases in risk for MSI-L CRC (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.06-3.24) and rectal cancer (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.08-2.02).
Conclusions: We found associations between cigarette smoking and increased risks of rectal cancer and MSI-H CRC. Alcohol intake was associated with increased risks of rectal cancer and MSI-L CRC. These results highlight the importance of considering tumor phenotype in studies of risk factors for CRC.