Coffee link to child cancer probed

Leicester, England, January 28: British scientists are investigating a possible link between coffee intake during pregnancy and childhood leukaemia.

The study is aimed to determine the sources of chromosomal alterations during pregnancy with the ultimate aim of reducing the risk of childhood leukaemias.

Dr Marcus Cooke of University of Leicester, leader of the study said, “It’s been known for years that caffeine is a radio sensitizer that enhances the effects of DNA damaging agents. It does this in two ways, by interfering with the process of DNA repair and by pushing cells through the cell replication cycle so they don't have time to make repairs.”

Scientists feel it is a plausible explanation. The stimulant can pass back and forth across the placentadefine, so the fetus is bound to come in contact with caffeine consumed by the mother. Dr Marcus Cooke stated, "We want to find out whether consuming caffeine could lead to the sort of DNA changes in the baby that are linked to risk of leukaemia."

Dr Cooke and his team are undertaking a yearlong pilot study with a group of 1,340 pregnant women. A blood sample is taken from each newborn baby's heel at birth. These samples are then tested for DNA changes. The team will try to find a link by comparing DNA changes to the level of caffeine consumed by the mother.

If the link is discovered, further research will be conducted to determine whether the DNA changes could develop leukaemia. The scientists will take into account exposure to other DNA damaging agents along with lifestyle and dietary data to see, if there are other factors that might increase the risk.

Dr Cooke stated that "Although there's no evidence at all of a link between caffeine and cancerdefine, we're putting two and two together and saying: caffeine can induce these changes, and it has been shown that these changes are elevated in leukaemia patients. I wonder if caffeine can somehow sensitize cells or increase the risk of leukaemia?”

Leukaemia is believed to affects the bone marrow and white blood cells. Around 7,000 cases of the disease are reported in the United Kingdom annually. However, only one in 10 leukaemia patients are children. Still it is considered one of the most common types of childhood cancer.

The causes of childhood leukaemia are unknown. The two possibilities considered are pre-birth exposure to manufactured or natural radiations, or contacting a common infection. However, there is no evidence of either.

The study was funded by World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)