Coffee in cancer chemoprevention: an updated review

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Chemoprevention of cancer refers to the use of natural or synthetic compounds to abolish or perturb a variety of steps in tumor initiation, promotion, and progression. This can be realized through different mechanisms, including activation of free radical scavenging enzymes, control of chronic inflammation, and downregulation of specific signaling pathways.

Areas covered

The goal of this article is to critically review recent evidence on association between coffee and prevention of different types of cancer, with particular emphasis on the molecular mechanisms and the bioactive compounds involved in its anticancer activity.

Expert opinion

Coffee is a mixture of different compounds able to decrease the risk of many types of cancer. However, its potential anticancer activity is not completely understood. Hundreds of biologically active components such as caffeine, chlorogenic acid, diterpenes are contained in coffee. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of coffee and fully understand the role of different confounding factors playing a role in its reported anticancer activity.

KEYWORDS:

• Coffee
• caffeine
• cancer
• chemoprevention
• mechanisms of action

Article highlights

• Chemoprevention of cancer refers to the use of natural or synthetic compounds to abolish or perturb a variety of steps in tumor initiation, promotion, and progression.

• Coffee is one of the leading beverages of the world with an estimated global consumption of 165.27million bags for the year 2019-20.

• Chemopreventive effects of coffee have been reported against several forms of cancers. Different cancer inhibitory properties have been proposed including oxidation inhibition, anti-inflammatory effects, and induction of cancer cell death. Chemopreventive properties of coffee are attributed to a variety of compounds including caffeine, chlorogenic acid, diterpenes like kahweol and cafestol.

• Comparing the amount of coffee exhibiting anticancer effects with the maximum daily consumption defined by EFSA, it is quite clear that coffee is able to evoke anticancer effects at amounts below the maximum daily consumption indicated by EFSA.

• Some bioactive compounds of coffee have been found to be genotoxic. However, coffee is devoid of genotoxic effects.

• Human gut flora plays a pivotal role in bioavailability and type of coffee metabolites to which individuals are exposed.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.