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Cancer prevention by tea: animal studies, molecular mechanisms and human relevance

Chung S Yang1, Xin Wang, Gang Lu

  • 1Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory of Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 164 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8020, USA. csyang@rci.rutgers

Nature Reviews. Cancer
|May 28, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Green tea extracts and polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin-3-gallate, show promise in preventing cancer by inhibiting tumor development and spread. Further research explores tea

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Tea extracts, especially green tea, demonstrate anti-tumorigenic properties in animal models.
  • Tea polyphenols, notably (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, are implicated in cancer inhibition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biological activities of tea polyphenols.
  • To examine the relationship between tea consumption and human cancer risk.
  • To assess the potential of tea for cancer prevention.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on tea's biological activities.
  • Analysis of data linking tea consumption to human cancer incidence.
  • Examination of molecular mechanisms of tea polyphenols.

Main Results:

  • Tea polyphenols inhibit tumor formation and development across various organs in animal studies.
  • (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate suppresses cell proliferation, enhances apoptosis, and inhibits angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis.
  • Evidence suggests a potential role for tea in reducing human cancer risk.

Conclusions:

  • Tea polyphenols possess significant anti-cancer biological activities.
  • Tea consumption may offer a protective effect against cancer.
  • Further investigation into tea's role in cancer prevention is warranted.

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