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Targeting receptor tyrosine kinases for chemoprevention by green tea catechin, EGCG

Masahito Shimizu1, Yohei Shirakami1, Hisataka Moriwaki1

  • 1Department of Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu 501-1194, Japan.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|March 28, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Green tea

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Green tea consumption is linked to reduced cancer risk.
  • (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a key green tea compound with anticancer properties.
  • Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are crucial in cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence on EGCG's anticancer effects.
  • To investigate EGCG's inhibition of RTK activation and downstream pathways.
  • To explore tea catechins as a cancer prevention strategy targeting RTKs.

Main Methods:

  • Review of in vivo and in vitro studies on green tea and EGCG.
  • Analysis of EGCG's effects on various RTKs (EGFR, HER2, HER3, IGF-1, VEGF receptors).
  • Examination of EGCG's impact on RTK-related signaling pathways (Ras/MAPK, PI3K/Akt) and transcription factors (AP-1, NF-kappaB).

Main Results:

  • EGCG inhibits the activation of multiple RTKs in human cancer cells.
  • EGCG alters cell membrane organization, affecting EGFR dimerization and activation.
  • EGCG modulates key signaling pathways and transcription factors, leading to apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

Conclusions:

  • EGCG exhibits anticancer effects by inhibiting RTK activation.
  • Targeting RTKs and associated pathways with tea catechins is a potential cancer prevention strategy.
  • Further research into tea catechins for cancer prevention is warranted.
Keywords:
AP-1, activator protein-1COX-2, cyclooxygenase-2EC, (–)-epicatechinECG, epicatechin-3-gallateEGC, (–)-epigallocatechinEGCGEGCG, (–)-epigallocatechin-3-gallateEGF, epidermal growth factorEGFR, epidermal growth factor receptorERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinaseFGF, fibroblast growth factorFGFR, fibroblast growth factor receptorHNSCC, head and neck squamous cell carcinomaIGF-1, insulin-like growth factor-1IGF-1R, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptorIGFBP, insulin-like growth factor-binding proteinIKKα, inhibitor of κB kinase-αIκBα, inhibitor of κB-αLR, laminin receptorMAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinaseMEK, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinaseMMP, matrix metalloproteinasePDGF, platelet-derived growth factorPDGFR, platelet-derived growth factor receptorPGE2prostaglandin E2PI3K, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinasePoly E, polyphenon EROS, reactive oxygen speciesRTKRTK, receptor tyrosine kinaseStat, signal transducers and activator of transcriptionTGFα, transforming growth factor-αTRAMP, transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostateTea catechinsUV, ultravioletVEGF, vascular endothelial growth factorVEGFR, vascular endothelial growth factor receptorcell signaling pathway

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