Antiproliferation effect of commercially brewed coffees on human ovarian cancer cells in vitro

Numerous scientific studies have examined the relationship between coffee consumption and an array of medical conditions, including cancer, and yet the direct effect of commercially brewed coffee on cancer cells has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antiproliferation effect of 4 different regular and decaffeinated coffee brews and 3 of coffee's bioactive ingredients-caffeine, chlorogenic acids, and caffeic acid-on 2 human ovarian cancer cell lines alone and in combination with cisplatin (CDDP). Antiproliferation IC(50) for Brand A regular and decaffeinated coffee on A2780 cells was 1:70.79 ± 5.66 and 1:55.68 ± 2.00 dilution (vol/vol) in tissue culture medium (mean ± standard error of the mean; N = 12), respectively, and slightly lower on A2780CP70 cells. Three other brands showed lower antiproliferation activity. Antiproliferation IC(50) concentrations of chlorogenic acids and caffeic acid are many folds lower than caffeine. In combination with CDDP, both Brand A coffee brews, and the 3 bioactive compounds, showed additive antiproliferation effect on both cancer cell lines. Flow cytometry analysis showed that coffee treatment induced apoptosis of A2780 and A2780CP70 cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the antiproliferation activity and the additive effect with CDDP of commercially prepared coffee brews on human cancer cell lines.