Differential effects of wine consumption on colorectal cancer outcomes based on family history of the disease

Potentially favorable effects of wine consumption on colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence have been reported, but effects on clinical outcomes are unknown. This case-only analysis was designed to investigate outcomes among familial (n = 141) and sporadic (n = 358) CRC patients enrolled in the University of California Irvine CRC gene-environment study during 1994-1996 based on their reported frequency of wine consumption in the year prior to diagnosis. Cases were categorized as either regular or infrequent wine consumers. Univariate survival rate analyses were estimated using the Kaplan and Meier method and log-rank test. Multivariate survival analyses were performed using Cox proportionalhazards ratios (HRs). Earlier stage at presentation (P = 0.034) was noted for familial (but not sporadic) CRC cases reporting regular wine consumption. An overall survival (OS) benefit was observed for familial (but not sporadic) CRC cases that were regular (10-yr OS = 75%) versus infrequent wine consumers (10-yr OS = 47%; P = 0.002). This survival improvement for familial CRC cases remained after adjustment for age, stage, treatment, and other clinically relevant factors (HR = 0.50,95% confidence interval = 0.25-0.99). Our findings implicate favorable effects of wine consumption on stage at presentation and survival in CRC, selectively among familial CRC cases.