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15.06.2018

Cancer inhibitor in green tea may be effective in humans

The more EGCG women with breast cancer absorb from a supplement with green tea, the less quickly grow their tumors. Italian oncologists report this in Cancer Prevention Research.

Study
For 4 weeks, the researchers gave 12 women with an early stage breast cancer every day 300 milligrams of Greenselect Phytosome. This supplements contains catechins from green tea that are packaged in phospholipids from lecithin.

A few days ago we wrote about a sponsored human study, in which Greenselect Phytosome accelerated weight loss and increased the concentration of growth hormone and IGF-1. As fas as we know, the research we are talking about now is not sponsored.

Just before the supplementation began, the researchers took some cells out of the tumors. When the 4 weeks were over, the women were operated and surgeons removed the tumors.

Results
The researchers found no endocrinological effects of the green tea supplement in the blood. There was one exception: the concentration of testosterone increased a bit, probably as a result of the inhibition of enzymes that neutralize testosterone.

Ki-67 is a protein that indicates growth and cell division. The more Ki-67 you find in cancer cells, the more vital they are. In the removed tumors, the researchers found a negligible little bit less Ki-67 than in the biopsies. But when they determined the relationship between the concentration of EGCG in the women's blood and the amount of Ki-67 in the tumors, they found a meaningful association: more EGCG in the blood of the women meant less Ki-67.

Conclusion
"Several authors have addressed the hypothesis of adding green tea to breast cancer therapy", write the researchers. "In particular, the coadministration of green tea and tamoxifen seems to improve the outcomes in breast cancer cell lines [Biosci Rep. 2011 Apr;31(2):99-108.] [Anticancer Drugs. 2004 Oct;15(9):889-97.] and animal models [Carcinogenesis. 2006 Dec;27(12):2424-33.] [Br J Cancer. 2008 Oct 7;99(7):1056-63.]."

"Furthermore, observational studies have evaluated green tea in relation to gynecologic cancers and a meta-analysis reported that green tea intake was associated with a 23% decrease in endometrial cancer risk, [Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Dec;201(6):605.e1-8.] which is the biggest concern of patients taking tamoxifen for adjuvant treatment and prevention. [Cancer Treat Rev. 2017 Apr;55:1-9.]"

"With all the caution necessary when extrapolating data from preclinical studies or retrospective trials, a future step might be the evaluation of the combination of Greenselect Phytosome with low dose tamoxifen, which has shown a potential preventive effect on high-risk ductal carcinoma in situ in postmenopausal women. [Int J Cancer. 2016 Nov 1;139(9):2127-34.]"

"In conclusion, we have shown for the first time that Greenselect Phytosome is able to reach human breast tissue. Further clinical investigation is needed to confirm the potential of Greenselect Phytosome in cancer prevention."

Of course we know better
We, the compilers of this free web magazine, are ignorant journalists, and not oncologists. Nevertheless, we want to encourage readers who are treated for cancer to not experiment with supplements. They might reduce the effects of chemotherapy and radiation. A better option is to combine the regular cancer treatment with physical activity. This posting is about cancer, Ki-67 and exercise.

Source:
Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2017 Jun;10(6):363-70.

More:
Quercetin boosts inhibitory effect of green tea for prostate cancer 27.01.2014
Tea protects prostate against testosterone 10.12.2013

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Cancer Prevention & Survival
Breast Cancer
Tea

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