{
  "abstract": "Alcohol consumption is a preventable driver of many cancers, yet a central biological question remains unresolved: by what mechanisms does ethanol promote malignancy? We propose that alcohol in the context of the exposome (i.e., the network of chemical, biological, and social determinants that interact with ethanol across the life span) provides a unifying framework for understanding alcohol-related carcinogenesis. Viewed through the lens of the exposome, alcohol is not only as a direct carcinogen but also as a systemic amplifier of environmental risk acting across multiple levels of biological organization, from molecular damage to whole-body physiology. This reframing has important implications for mechanistic research, precision prevention, and public-health policy.\n\nAlcohol is a preventable cause of cancer, but the mechanisms linking its consumption to malignancy remain incompletely understood. This Unsolved Mystery explores alcohol’s carcinogenic effects through an exposome lens, arguing that alcohol acts as an amplifier of environmental risk, with important implications for prevention, public health policy, and future research.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America"
  ],
  "article_type": "Unsolved Mystery",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Vasilis Vasiliou"
    },
    {
      "name": "Arthur Stem"
    },
    {
      "name": "David C. Thompson"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/10zzmhtcsf22k.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pbio.3004100",
  "fulltext_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3004100",
  "id": "10zzmhtcsf22k",
  "issns": [
    "1545-7885"
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  "landing_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3004100",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Nucleic acids/DNA/DNA repair"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Genetics/DNA/DNA repair"
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      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Nutrition/Diet/Alcohol consumption"
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      "/Medicine and health sciences/Epidemiology/Medical risk factors/Cancer risk factors"
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      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Gastroenterology and hepatology/Liver diseases/Hepatocellular carcinoma"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Nutrition/Diet/Alcohol consumption"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancer risk factors"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancers and neoplasms"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancers and neoplasms/Breast tumors/Breast cancer"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancers and neoplasms/Carcinoma/Hepatocellular carcinoma"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancers and neoplasms/Gastrointestinal tumors/Hepatocellular carcinoma"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Chemical compounds/Organic compounds/Acetaldehyde"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Chemical compounds/Organic compounds/Alcohols/Ethanol"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Organic chemistry/Organic compounds/Acetaldehyde"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Organic chemistry/Organic compounds/Alcohols/Ethanol"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3004100&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-05",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/10zzmhtcsf22k.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-06T12:20:42Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pbio.3004100",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3004100"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:oncology",
      "subfield": "oncology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Can the exposome help solve the alcohol and cancer mystery?",
  "title_text": "Can the exposome help solve the alcohol and cancer mystery?",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-07T12:20:24Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/10zzmhtcsf22k",
  "venue": "PLOS Biology",
  "versions": []
}