Abstract B47: EGCG induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract

Abstract (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major green tea catechin, can effectively inhibit proliferation of a variety of tumor cells and has been considered as a chemopreventive agent for cancers. In this study, EGCG was tested on the EBV latently-infected nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells line, NA, which corresponds to the in vivo situation in NPC patient. Treatment of EGCG induces growth arrest in the S phase of cell cycle in NA cells. In vitro spheroid formation assay indicated that EGCG can induce growth inhibition in NA cell at relative low concentration (CC50=2 μM). At higher concentration (>25 μM), EGCG induces cellular DNA breakage and apoptosis via caspase activation. Moreover, cells exhibited reduction in migration and invasiveness after EGCG treatment. The expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 was reduced after EGCG treatment. In a mice xenograft model with NA cells inoculation, oral administration of EGCG was able to inhibit the proliferation of tumors in vivo. These results indicate that EGCG is able to inhibit proliferation even at low concentration and can further induce apoptosis of NPC cells at high concentration, which make EGCG a promising candidate for chemoprevention of NPC. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B47.