A new human clinical trial conducted at Louisiana State
University shows that Green Tea high in its primary ingredient EGCG
slows the growth and progression of prostate cancer and that EGCG/Green
Tea also lowers the risk of developing prostate cancer in the first
place. James A. Cardelli, Ph.D., lead author of the study and director
of basic and translational research in the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center
at LSU University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, said the new study
is one of the few green tea trials which actually evaluated biomarkers
in order to predict prostate cancer’s progression. The biomarkers the
study tracked were PSA (prostate specific antigen), HGF (hepatocyte
growth factor), and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor).
The study involved 26 men aged 41 to 72 who were scheduled for
radical prostactectomies to remove their prostate cancer. Each patient
took four servings of Green Tea daily for an average of about 35 days
up until surgery, which was equal to drinking twelve cups of normally
brewed green tea. The researchers found that the green tea compounds
significantly reduced serum levels of PSA, HGF, and VEGF, with
reductions as great as 30 percent in some patients. Dr. Cardelli said
there were few side effects, and that other biomarkers were also
“positively affected;” meaning they were reduced.
Referring to the LSU study and to a year-long clinical trial
in Italy involving green tea polyphenols, Dr. Cardelli said, “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.” The study is published online ahead of print in the
journal Cancer Prevention Research.
