Suppressive Effects of Tea Catechins on Breast Cancer

Abstract

Tea leaf (Camellia sinensis) is rich in catechins, which endow tea with various health benefits. There are more than ten catechin compounds in tea, among which epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) is the most abundant. Epidemiological studies on the association between tea consumption and the risk of breast cancer were summarized, and the inhibitory effects of tea catechins on breast cancer, with EGCG as a representative compound, were reviewed in the present paper. The controversial results regarding the role of tea in breast cancer and areas for further study were discussed.

(−)‐Epigallocatechin gallate derivatives reduce the expression of both urokinase plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 to inhibit migration, adhesion, and invasion of MDA‐MB‐231 cells

“…Metastasis, a process whereby cancer cells spread from a primary site to distant organs, is responsible for most cancer‐related deaths. Therapeutic strategies against cancer metastasis have thus been intensively explored, and EGCG has been highlighted due to its possible cancer‐preventive activity and inhibition of multiple signaling pathways involved in metastasis (Khan, Afaq, Saleem, Ahmad, & Mukhtar, ; Khan & Mukhtar, ; Takahashi et al, ; Xiang et al, ). EGCG has been reported to inhibit multiple proteins involved in the invasiveness of cancer cells including vascular endothelial growth factor (Neuhaus et al, ) and MMPs (Fassina et al, ).…”

Recent progress on the effects of microRNAs and natural products on tumor epithelial–mesenchymal transition

“…It was also shown to restrict tumor growth in vivo 125. Through its regulation on EMT and anti-angiogenesis effects, EGCG inhibited the invasion and migration of breast cancer cells 126. In addition, EGCG competed for binding sites for ATP in the PI3K/mTOR active region and then blocked the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway 127.…”

Emerging Role of Nutri-Epigenetics in Inflammation and Cancer

“…Studies of tea catechins demonstrate inhibitory activity against cancer development and cancer cell growth (Rahmani, Al shabrmi, Allemailem, Aly, & Khan, 2015; Xiang et al, 2016). In addition, sulforaphane, mostly found in cruciferous vegetables (broccoli and broccoli sprouts), inhibits enzymes involved in cancer initiation (Gills et al, 2006), is chemoprotective, and, in animal studies, has been shown to reduce tumor growth (Myzak, Tong, Dashwood, Dashwood, & Ho, 2007).…”