Coffee and tea intake and risk of head and neck cancer: pooled analysis in the international head and neck cancer epidemiology consortium

Abstract

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.

Impact: 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.

Figure 1

Study specific and pooled estimates of OP cancer for drinkers of caffeinated coffee versus non drinkers NOTE In Panel B the study by Peters et al 2005 is missing because no subjects consumed <=3->=4 cups of caffeinated coffee per day, due to the ordinal response scale used (i.e., 2–3 cups per day, 3–4 cups per day). Small differences in the estimates between the figure and Table 3 are due to rounding off of data.

Figure 2

Study specific and pooled estimates of laringeal cancer for drinkers of caffeinated coffee versus non drinkers NOTE In Panel B two studies are missing. Study by Peters et al. 2005 is missing because no subjects consumed <=3->=4 cups of caffeinated coffee per day, due to the ordinal response scale used (i.e., 2–3 cups per day, 3–4 cups per day); study by Schantz et al 1997 is missing because the OR was not estimable, respectively. Small differences in the estimates between the figure and Table 3 are due to rounding off of data.