In contrast, if the tumor promoter model is correct, and alcohol acts on a latent tumor, then women without tumors are not at elevated risk of breast cancer from alcohol drinking. If so, then the cessation of drinking by these women would have no benefit in terms of breast cancer risk. For women with latent tumors, cessation of drinking could delay the diagnosis of breast cancer. As discussed above, the epidemiologic results do not support a pure tumor promoter mechanism. However, it is possible that ethanol acts as both a weak cumulative carcinogen and tumor promoter. Therefore understanding the mechanistic basis of the tumor promoter effect may be important clinically.
