SINGAPORE: A recent report in New York claims that drinking two cups of coffee a day may cut the risk of liver cancer by nearly half (43%).

Coffee is said to contain large amounts of antioxidants which can help fight stress and inhibit the formation of cancer-causing carcinogens.

A group of Swedish researchers carried out an analysis (called meta-analysis) to determine the association between coffee consumption and the risk of liver cancer.

They compared data taken from 11 studies involving more than 2,000 liver cancer patients and 239,000 people without liver cancer.

It was found that those who drank two cups of coffee daily had a 43% drop in the risk of liver cancer.

But a leading Singapore oncologist feels the study is too simplistic and offers no conclusive clinical evidence on the benefits of coffee.

Says Dr Ang Peng Tiam, President, Singapore Society of Oncology, "Why in the liver? Why not in the pancreas or in the stomach? It is for these reasons that sometimes further research needs to be done. Until there is a good prospective trial that shows the preventive benefit of coffee, I won't be taking coffee!

"It will take more than this article to convince me to become a teetotaller or coffee drinker!! In a prospective trial, you actually intervene, and you watch for a result.

"In contrast, in this meta analysis, it is a retrospective study. You are finding people who already have developed cancer, you select a control group who at the present time does not have cancer and then you ask them... from what they can remember, what is their diet like."

Over the years, many dietary studies have surfaced from time to time. Some have claimed that soy can prevent breast cancer. Others say broccoli can lower cancer risks.

But doctors say none of these claims have conclusive clinical evidence.

And while positive studies get widely publicised, negative findings are rarely reported on.

Dr Ang says the link between diet and cancer is highly controversial.

There is also no concrete clinical trial to confirm if antioxidants can indeed reduce the risk of cancer.

But where diet fails, patients can take comfort in medical advances, like screening technology, and vaccines against cervical cancer and hepatitis B.

"While cancer is a very serious disease, because we now understand more about it, we can play a part in terms of preventing it, detecting it early and getting the knowledge of advances in cancer treatment," says Dr Ang.

It is estimated that one in three people will have an episode of cancer in their lifetime, and one in four will die from the disease.

Dr Ang feels the best prevention against cancer is to lead a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly and to try to stay stress free.

Simple adjustments, such as avoiding known risks, also help. It is also important to eat and drink in moderation.

Dr Ang and other cancer experts will be speaking on cancer prevention and treatment at a seminar this weekend at Suntec City. - CNA/yy