Pooled analysis of studies of the association of pre-diagnosis tea and coffee consumption and survival after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Tea and coffee are among the most frequently consumed beverages in the world. A pooled analysis of ten studies by the multinational Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium investigated the association of pre-diagnosis tea and coffee consumption with survival after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Compared with women who did not drink any green tea, consumption of one or more cups per day was associated with better overall survival (aHR 0.84; p for trend 0.04). A similar association was seen for ovarian cancer-specific survival in five studies with this information (aHR 0.81; p for trend 0.045). Adjustment for clinical or lifestyle aspects did not appreciably alter the estimates. There was no evidence of an association between coffee, black or herbal tea, or caffeine intake and survival. The authors conclude that the observed association with green tea consumption before diagnosis raises the possibility that consumption after diagnosis might improve patient outcomes.