The role of coffee and caffeine intake in breast cancer initiation, progression and survival

Background: Coffee is a popular beverage around the world. Coffee and its essential component, caffeine, have been demonstrated to affect breast cancer (BC) incidence, progression, or mortality. This review article tries to investigate the association between coffee or caffeine and BC initiation, progression and survival. Methods:Relevant studies were extracted through searching in common databases (PUBMED, Google Scholar and Science Direct) until Jan 2016. Human, laboratory and animal studies were included. Results: Thirty-three studies about BC, coffee and caffeine were entered the review. Coffee and caffeine showed no association with BC in 16 studies and negative association in 15 studies. Coffee consumption inhibited BC incidence in most of published investigations. Coffee and caffeine decreased BC progression. No significant association was evident between coffee or caffeine consumption and survival in BC patients in one study. Coffee was inversely related to survival in BC subjects according to one study result. Two studies showed positive relation between coffee or caffeine intake and BC. Conclusion: Coffee and caffeine may have beneficial effects on BC incidence and progression. The role of coffee or caffeine in BC initiation or survival is still inconsistent and should be warranted through further investigations.