Coffee and tea intake and risk of head and neck cancer: pooled analysis in the international head and neck cancer epidemiology consortium.
BACKGROUND
Only a few studies have explored the relation between coffee and tea intake and head and neck cancers, with inconsistent results.


METHODS
We pooled individual-level data from nine case-control studies of head and neck cancers, including 5,139 cases and 9,028 controls. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), adjusting for potential confounders.


RESULTS
Caffeinated coffee intake was inversely related with the risk of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx: the ORs were 0.96 (95% CI, 0.94-0.98) for an increment of 1 cup per day and 0.61 (95% CI, 0.47-0.80) in drinkers of >4 cups per day versus nondrinkers. This latter estimate was consistent for different anatomic sites (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.30-0.71 for oral cavity; OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.41-0.82 for oropharynx/hypopharynx; and OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.37-1.01 for oral cavity/pharynx not otherwise specified) and across strata of selected covariates. No association of caffeinated coffee drinking was found with laryngeal cancer (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.64-1.45 in drinkers of >4 cups per day versus nondrinkers). Data on decaffeinated coffee were too sparse for detailed analysis, but indicated no increased risk. Tea intake was not associated with head and neck cancer risk (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.89-1.11 for drinkers versus nondrinkers).


CONCLUSIONS
This pooled analysis of case-control studies supports the hypothesis of an inverse association between caffeinated coffee drinking and risk of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx.


CONCLUSIONS
Given widespread use of coffee and the relatively high incidence and low survival of head and neck cancers, the observed inverse association may have appreciable public health relevance.
Galeone
Carlotta
C
Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Tavani
Alessandra
A
Pelucchi
Claudio
C
Turati
Federica
F
Winn
Deborah M
DM
Levi
Fabio
F
Yu
Guo-Pei
GP
Morgenstern
Hal
H
Kelsey
Karl
K
Dal Maso
Luigino
L
Purdue
Mark P
MP
McClean
Michael
M
Talamini
Renato
R
Hayes
Richard B
RB
Franceschi
Silvia
S
Schantz
Stimson
S
Zhang
Zuo-Feng
ZF
Ferro
Gilles
G
Chuang
Shu-Chun
SC
Boffetta
Paolo
P
La Vecchia
Carlo
C
Hashibe
Mia
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003069:Coffee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013662:Tea / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
D003069:Coffee; D013662:Tea; D002110:Caffeine