How caffeine prevents skin cancer

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Aug 15. Protection from UV-induced skin carcinogenesis by genetic inhibition of the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase. (University of Washington, Seattle, WA)

• We already know...
• Epidemiologically, caffeine intake lowers skin cancer risk.
• Oral/topical caffeine prevents skin cancer in hairless mouse.

• Here in this article,
• Transgenic mouse with diminished ATR (Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related) activity was made to mimic caffeine effect in genetic level.
• Those mice showed lower incidence of UV-induced skin cancer.
• Inhibition of ATR is suggested to be the mechanism of skin cancer prevention by caffeine.

Less risk of lethal prostate cancer in coffee drinker

J Natl Cancer Inst. 2011 May 17. Coffee consumption and prostate cancer risk and progression in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. (Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA)

• Prospective analysis of 47,911 men (Health Professionals Follow-up Study)
• Coffee >6 cups/day compared to no coffee
• Slightly lower risk for overall prostate cancer (425 vs 519/100k person-year)
• Substantially lower risk for lethal prostate cancer (34 vs 79/100k person-year)
• No difference with non-advanced/low-grade prostate cancer
• Regardless of decaf or caffeinated
• Possible links: insulin, testosterone, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory

Coffee reduces ER(-) breast cancer risk

Breast Cancer Res. 2011 May 14. Coffee consumption modifies risk of estrogen-receptor negative breast cancer. (Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden)

• Swedish, population-based case-control study
• 2,818 cases and 3,111 controls
• post-menopausal women aged 50 - 74 years
• Coffee >5 cups/day compared to <1 cup/day
• Modest decrease in overall breast cancer risk
• Significant decrease in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer risk