In order to elucidate whether mixed exposure to environmental carcinogens and caffeine increases the risk of cancer induction, we investigated the relationship between preneoplastic lesion development in the liver and colon and drug metabolizing enzyme induction and DNA adduct formation, in rats treated with a mixture of heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and caffeine. In Experiment 1, male F344 rats were administered 3 different HCAs, the food carcinogens, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), alone or in combinations of 2 or 3 at 50 ppm in the diet for 16 weeks. The numbers of hepatic glutathione-S-transferase P form positive (GST-P+) foci and colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were greater in the IQ + MeIQx group than expected from simple summation and increased levels of HCA-DNA adducts were noted. However, no summation was obtained when combined with PhIP, which rather caused inhibition. In Experiment 2, the effects of concurrent caffeine administration on the PhIP carcinogenicity were assessed. Caffeine at 1000 and 500 ppm in the drinking water for 2 weeks significantly increased levels of CYP1A2. Ten weeks concurrent administration of caffeine (1000 ppm) and PhIP (400 ppm) resulted in significant increase of colon ACFs and CYP1A2 expression. Thus, concurrent administration of IQ and MeIQx caused elevation of their carcinogenicity but other mixtures with PhIP did not enhance carcinogenicity. However, a non-carcinogen, caffeine, enhanced PhIP colon carcinogenesis, possibly due to induction of CYP1A2.