Abstract LB143: Environmental assessment of alcohol-related policies and practices at US cancer organizations

Abstract

Abstract In 1998, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) declared that the consumption of alcoholic beverages was a class I carcinogen to humans; the designation was reaffirmed in 2007 and 2010. Despite this, approximately 4% of new cancer cases worldwide in 2020 were attributable to alcohol intake. Growing evidence indicates that alcohol use increases the risk of cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract (oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, and larynx) and lower digestive tract (colon, rectum, and liver). Over half of the 6.3 million cases of these cancers are considered preventable, underscoring notable gaps regarding alcohol consumption and cancer prevention. Despite (1) the longstanding designation of alcohol as an established carcinogen, (2) an increasing and consistent body of data noting alcohol as a leading contributor to the global cancer burden, and (3) the publication of policy statements by authoritative sources, it is unclear whether cancer-focused institutions are aware of these facts or are acting on these data (i.e., implementing evidence-based policies and practices to limit alcohol-related cancer risks for their employees, guests, or the public). Driven by these data and shortfalls, we developed a 22-item survey to inquire about cancer organizations' interpretation of current literature, existing policies, decision-making processes, inclination to act, and perceived responsibility to lead in the realms of public education and policy implementation to mitigate alcohol-related cancer risks in the public’s interest. The survey will be sent to over 100 leading U.S. cancer organizations, including NCI-designated- and other major cancer centers, cancer-oriented professional organizations, and cancer-research organizations. It underwent rigorous testing for clarity, brevity, and expected response time, also drawing upon the expertise of five survey-science professionals. The study is under institutional review board (IRB) review, and we anticipate the survey’s distribution in the first quarter of the calendar year 2024. We expect to share the survey instrument and results during the meeting. Citation Format: Meghan Si, Stephanie Martch, Sanjay Shete, Ernest Hawk. Environmental assessment of alcohol-related policies and practices at US cancer organizations [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr LB143.