# CAFFEINE & EXPERIMENTAL MAMMARY GLAND TUMORIGENESIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · 1991 · $107,510

## Abstract

Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) holds the dubious distinction
of being the most widely used psychotropic drug in North America.
The methylated purine is most often consumed in colas, teas,
chocolates and numerous prescription and non-prescription drugs.
Despite the ubiquitous consumption of the drug, we still do not
know whether or not the drug is an important contributing
"lifestyle" factor in the genesis of malignant disease.  Such is
the case with human breast tumors (benign and malignant);
controversy still exists as to whether or not caffeine consumption
contributes to human breast tumorigenesis.

During the past 3 years, our studies provide evidence that caffeine
consumption (via the drinking water) can indeed effect (inhibit and
enhance) mammary gland tumorigenesis in experimental animals, a
phenomenon that is dependent upon the time-span of caffeine
treatment, the dose of caffeine used and the animal model examined.
In this research proposal, we intend to further examine the role
of caffeine in experimental animal (rat and mouse) mammary gland
tumorigenesis.

Specifically, we intend to:

1)  further evaluate the role of caffeine in DMBA-induced rat
mammary gland tumorigenesis and, in addition, examine the role of
caffeine in the MNU-induced rat mammary carcinoma model and in the
pregnancy- and hormone-induced mouse mammary carcinoma model.

In addition, we intend to:

2)  examine the influence of caffeine on normal mammary gland
developmental growth processes in immature and mature mice and

3)  determine the influence of caffeine on mammotropic hormone
secretion in immature and mature rats.

These studies are designed to extend our current understanding of
the influence of caffeine on normal and neoplastic mammary gland
developmental growth processes and provide insight into the
mechanism by which the drug influences these processes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3175392
- **Project number:** 5R01CA037613-07
- **Recipient organization:** MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** R28EKN92ZTZ9
- **Principal Investigator:** CLIFFORD W WELSCH
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $107,510
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1984-07-01 → 1993-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3175392

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3175392, CAFFEINE & EXPERIMENTAL MAMMARY GLAND TUMORIGENESIS (5R01CA037613-07). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3175392. Licensed CC0.

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