Abstract

Extracts of tea, especially green tea, and tea polyphenols have been shown to inhibit the formation and development of tumours at different organ sites in animal models. There is considerable evidence that tea polyphenols, in particular (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, inhibit enzyme activities and signal transduction pathways, resulting in the suppression of cell proliferation and enhancement of apoptosis, as well as the inhibition of cell invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. Here, we review these biological activities and existing data relating tea consumption to human cancer risk in an attempt to understand the potential use of tea for cancer prevention.

Author affiliations

1. Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory of Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Biology, and Center for Cancer Prevention Research, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 164 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854-8020, USA; and Cancer Institute of New Jersey, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA.

Correspondence to: Chung S. Yang¹ Email: csyang@rci.rutgers.edu

Published online 14 May 2009

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