A prospective observational cohort study of patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) showed that increased coffee consumption was linked to a lower risk for disease progression and death (JAMA Oncol. 2020;6[11]:1713-1721).

“Several compounds found in coffee possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and insulin-sensitizing effects, which may contribute to anticancer activity. Epidemiological studies have identified associations between increased coffee consumption and decreased recurrence and mortality of colorectal cancer. The association between coffee consumption and survival in patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer is unknown,” wrote Christopher Mackintosh, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, and colleagues. 

Overall, 1171 patients (694 [59%] men; median age, 59 years) with previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer and were enrolled in Cancer and Leukemia Group B (Alliance)/SWOG 80405, a completed phase 3 clinical trial comparing the addition of cetuximab and/or bevacizumab to standard chemotherapy, were included in this study. Dietary intake was reported at the time of enrollment using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Data collection occurred from October 2005 to January 2018.

At the time of median follow-up (5.4 years), a total of 1092 (93%) patients had died or had disease progression. 

According to Mackintosh and colleagues, increased coffee consumption was associated with decreased risk of cancer progression (hazard ratio [HR] for 1-cup/d increment, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91-1.00; P = .04 for trend) and death (HR for 1-cup/d increment, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89-0.98; P = .004 for trend).

They found that patients who consumed 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day had a multivariable HR for overall survival (OS) of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.67-1.00) and PFS of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.68-0.99), compared to those who did not drink coffee.

Furthermore, consumption of at least 4 cups of coffee per day had a multivariable HR for OS of 0.64 (95% CI, 0.46-0.87) and PFS of 0.78 (95% CI, 0.59-1.05). Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee yielded significant results.

“Coffee consumption may be associated with reduced risk of disease progression and death in patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer. Further research is warranted to elucidate underlying biological mechanisms,” concluded Mackintosh et al. —Alexandra Graziano