Green Tea Polyphenols and Cancer Chemoprevention of Genitourinary Cancer

Abstract

Green tea, which has higher concentrations of polyphenols than other teas, has been correlated with reduced risk of various malignancies with most data supporting a potential protective role in prostate neoplasia. Preclinical studies over the last 25 years implicate constituent green tea catechins, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) being the predominant form, as the main mechanistic ingredient in the observed biologic effects, which vary from proapoptotic effects to inhibition of androgen receptor and signal transduction pathways. There have been few prospective clinical trials of green tea polyphenols (GTP), especially with well-characterized formulations and doses. Although there have been hints of beneficial clinical activity in prostate neoplasia, other studies have raised concerns about the limited bioavailability and very low target-tissue concentrations of GTPs. At present there is no proven role for GTP supplementation in the prevention of genitourinary (GU) malignancies, but novel GTP formulations and further clinical testing may still support a future for GTP supplementation in GU cancer prevention.