Higher coffee intake may be associated with significantly reduced cancer recurrence and death in patients with stage 3 colon cancer, a new study published online ahead of print in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has shown.

For the study, a team led by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA, examined the influence of coffee, nonherbal tea, and caffeine on cancer recurrence and mortality in patients with stage 3 colon cancer. 

Researchers analyzed data from 953 patients with stage 3 colon cancer that reported dietary intake of caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and nonherbal tea, among various other items, during and 6 months after adjuvant chemotherapy.


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Results showed that patients drinking four or more cups of caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee per day have a 42% (HR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.99) reduced risk for colon cancer recurrence or mortality compared with those who never drink coffee (Ptrend=0.002).

Increasing coffee intake was also associated with a significant reduction in cancer recurrence or mortality (HR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.93;Ptrend=0.006).

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Researchers found that patients consuming four or more cups of caffeinated coffee per day had a 52% (HR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.91) reduced risk for cancer recurrence or death versus never drinkers (Ptrend=0.002).

The study demonstrated no association between nonherbal tea or decaffeinated coffee and patient outcome.

Reference

  1. Guercio BJ, Sato K, Niedzwiecki D, et al. Coffee intake, recurrence, and mortality in stage III colon cancer: results from CALGB 89803 (Alliance). J Clin Oncol. 2015. [epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2015.61.5062.