Role of Acetaldehyde in the Development of Oral Cancer
This clinical trial is being done to better understand how drinking alcohol contributes to the development of oral cancers. While drinking alcohol has been associated with oral cancers, exactly how alcohol can lead to these cancers is not known. Acetaldehyde, a chemical formed when the body breaks down alcohol, may play a key role by reacting with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to form DNA damage (adducts) which may contribute to cancer formation. This study will look at the DNA adducts that occur after consumption of a single drink in three populations with increasing risk for developing oral cancers: 1) efficient acetaldehyde metabolizers (ALDH2*1/1*), 2) less efficient acetaldehyde metabolizers (ALDH2*1/2*), 3) individuals with Fanconi Anemia (FA). The goal is to determine if the higher risk populations form specific DNA adducts/damage or higher levels of various DNA adducts that may account for acetaldehyde’s role in promoting cancer. Additionally, this trial will measure oral bacteria of participants to see if the three groups have different bacteria that could affect alcohol metabolism and thus the DNA damage formed in the mouth. The oral bacteria of non-drinkers will also be analyzed to see if drinking alcohol may change the oral bacteria over time. The aim is to identify DNA damage/adducts that may be critical to the formation of oral cancers to develop strategies for identifying populations that are at greater risk and to develop effective preventive measures.