Coffee and cancer risk, epidemiological evidence, and molecular mechanisms

Mol Nutr Food Res. 2014 May;58(5):915-30. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201300526. Epub 2013 Dec 27.

Abstract

Although early studies suggested that coffee consumption might increase risk of some cancers, more comprehensive epidemiological and experimental data now generally indicate either neutral or beneficial effects. In this review, we summarize the current evidence for associations between breast, prostate, colorectal, and liver cancers and the consumption of coffee, and discuss the experimental evidence for potential chemopreventive mechanisms of coffee and coffee constituents. The epidemiological evidence consistently indicates that coffee protects against liver cancer, and also point toward protective effects for risk of colorectal cancers (with relative risks of 0.50 (95% CI: 0.42-0.59) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.75-0.92), respectively, in the most recent meta-analyses). There seems to be no association between the overall risk of breast and prostate cancer and coffee intake. However, for subgroups such as postmenopausal breast cancers, advanced prostate cancers, and breast and prostate cancer survivors, an inverse association with coffee intake is indicated. Potential mechanisms for chemopreventive effects of coffee phytochemicals includes inhibition of oxidative stress and oxidative damage, regulation of DNA repair, phase II enzymatic activity, apoptosis, inflammation, as well as having antiproliferative, antiangiogenetic effects and antimetastatic effects. The experimental evidence for effects of coffee and coffee constituents on each of these processes is discussed.

Keywords: Cancer; Coffee; Inflammation; Phytochemicals; Stress defense.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Breast Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Chemoprevention
  • Coffee / adverse effects
  • Coffee / chemistry*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Liver Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Phytochemicals / pharmacology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Anticarcinogenic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Coffee
  • Phytochemicals