Compounds Found in Green Tea May Slow Prostate Cancer

A recent study of men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer showed that consumption of a compound found in green tea significantly lowered serum levels of HGF, VEGF and PSA, which are biomarkers indicative of cancer progression.

Results of the study, published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, described reductions in serum levels of more than 30%.  Other biomarkers were also positively affected.

The active compound in green tea, called Polyphenon E, was given to 26 men who were scheduled for radical prostatectomy. The men consumed four capsules containing Polyphenon E., or the equivalent of about 12 cups of brewed green tea, each day for a period ranging from 12 to 73 days, with a median duration of 34.5 days.

"These studies are just the beginning and a lot of work remains to be done, however, we think that the use of tea polyphenols alone or in combination with other compounds currently used for cancer therapy should be explored as an approach to prevent cancer progression and recurrence," said James A. Cardelli, Ph.D., professor and director of basic and translational research in the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport. 

Researchers may need to conduct a randomized trial to make sure that other factors, such as diet or vitamin supplements, were not responsible for the change in biomarkers. They may also look to see if different combinations of plant polyphenols are more effective than Polyphenon E alone.


They are working now with colleagues at New York’s Columbia University to conduct a similar trial among breast cancer patients.


"There is reasonably good evidence that many cancers are preventable, and our studies using plant-derived substances support the idea that plant compounds found in a healthy diet can play a role in preventing cancer development and progression," said Cardelli.