Population based study of coffee, alcohol and tobacco use and risk of ovarian cancer

Coffee, alcohol and tobacco use have been examined in many epidemiologic st udies of ovarian cancer but findings have generally been inconclusive. To e xplain prior inconsistent findings, we sought to determine whether associat ions with these exposures might vary by histologic subtype of ovarian cance r or menopausal status at diagnosis. We conducted a population-based case-c ontrol study in eastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire involving 549 women with newly-diagnosed epithelial ovarian cancer and 516 control women selec ted either by random digit dialing or through lists of residents. Coffee an d alcohol consumption was assessed through a semi-quantitative food-frequen cy questionnaire, and information on tobacco smoking was collected through personal interview. Consumption of coffee and caffeine was associated with increased risk for ovarian cancer but only among premenopausal women. There was no increase in risk for ovarian cancer overall associated with tobacco or alcohol use in either pre- or post-menopausal women. Association of bor derline significance for tobacco and invasive serous cancers and alcohol an d mucinous cancers were observed but reduced after adjustment for coffee co nsumption. We conclude that coffee and caffeine consumption may increase ri sk for ovarian cancer among premenopausal women and are findings that have some epidemiologic and biologic support. Int. J. Cancer 88:313-318, 2000. ( C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.