Abstract 2212: Urinary biomarkers of catechins in relation to risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in the Shanghai Cohort Study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Catechins from tea and non-tea sources are potential anti-carcinogenic compounds with potent antioxidant properties. Data supporting an effect of specific catechins on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in humans are sparse. We examined the association between urinary biomarkers of catechins and their metabolites and risk of HCC. Methods: A nested case-control study of HCC (221 cases and 1072 matched controls) was conducted within the Shanghai Cohort Study, a cohort of 18,244 men who were enrolled in 1986-1989. Specific catechins and their metabolites including epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), 4′-O-methyl-epigallocatechin (4′-MeEGC), (-)-5-(3′, 4′, 5′-trihydroxyphenyl)-gamma-valerolactone (M4), and (-)-5-(3′, 4′-dihydroxyphenyl)-gamma-valerolactone (M6) were quantified in urine samples collected from study subjects at enrollment. Logistic regression methods were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) with adjustment for established risk factors for HCC, including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) serology status, self-reported physician-diagnosed cirrhosis, cigarette smoking, and alcohol drinking. Results: Compared with men who had no detectable EC, men with detectable levels of urinary EC had a statistically significant lower risk of HCC (OR=0.64; 95% CI: 0.45, 0.92). The inverse association between EC and HCC risk was not modified by smoking, alcohol intake or HBsAg/cirrhosis status. This inverse EC-HCC association strengthened in analyses restricted to cases that were diagnosed 10 or more years after specimen collection (OR=0.40; 95% CI: 0.22, 0.71). There was no association between urinary levels of EGC or other catechin metabolites and HCC risk. Conclusion: In our study population green tea is the sole source of dietary EGC while the major sources of EC include green tea, as well as apples, black grapes, soybeans, and broad beans. Thus, the findings of the present study support the notion that consumption of fruits and legumes may have a beneficial effect on HCC risk. Experimental studies are warranted to elucidate the biologic mechanisms of EC in hepatocarcinogenesis. Citation Format: Joyce Y. Huang, Lesley M. Butler, Renwei Wang, Chung S. Yang, Jian-Min Yuan, Yu-Tang Gao. Urinary biomarkers of catechins in relation to risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in the Shanghai Cohort Study. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2212. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2212