Alcohol, Immunity, and Cancer

Book excerpt: Chronic alcoholism afflicts approximately 7% of the adult population of the United States and an even larger proportion in some other countries. Among the most devastating health problems associated with alcoholism are increased morbidity and mortality from infections and cancer. Alcohol, Immunity, and Cancer is the first book devoted entirely to presenting up-to-date comprehensive reviews on how the deleterious effects of alcohol consumption impact the immune system and increase the risk of developing many types of cancer. Topics covered include the effects of alcohol on cytokine activity, the modulation of natural killer cell activity by alcohol, fetal alcohol exposure and immunity, alcohol and hepatic carcinogenesis, and alcohol and cancer of the pancreas. Alcohol, Immunity, and Cancer will be invaluable for immunologists, pathologists, toxicologists, microbiologists, biochemists, endocrinologists, and neuroscientists interested in alcohol research. It will also benefit medical experts and general practitioners who need to know the role alcohol may play in the health and disease of their patients.