EGCg Inhibits Activity of HER-2 Gene Receptor
Study description: HER-2 is a gene that helps
control how cells grow, divide, and repair themselves. Too many copies of the HER-2
gene or too many receptors for that gene can make breast cancer grow quickly.
Researchers mixed the green tea catechin EGCg with
human breast cancer cells to see if EGCg would inhibit activation of the HER-2
receptor in human breast cancer cell lines.
Type of study: "Test-tube" study
What happened: EGCg markedly inhibited the
activation of HER-2 receptors. Both EGCg and green tea extract also made breast
cancer cells much more sensitive to the breast cancer drug Taxol, in effect making the drug more
powerful in inhibiting the growth of these cells.
Researchers' conclusion: "...EGCg may be
useful in treating cases of breast carcinoma ... in which activation of...HER-2 plays important roles in tumor
survival and growth."
Citation: Masuda M, Suzui M, Lim JT, et
al. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits activation of HER-2/neu and downstream
signaling pathways in human head and neck and breast carcinoma cells.
Clinical Cancer Research 2003;9(9):3486-91. (Click here to read PubMed study
abstract.)
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