Interaction of Green Tea Catechins with Breast Cancer Endocrine Treatment: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Recent data have shown strong chemopreventive and possibly cancer chemotherapeutic effects of green tea polyphenols and EGCG against breast cancer. This systematic review aims to synthesize data on the possible interaction of green tea catechins with breast cancer endocrine treatment. Electronic databases were searched with the appropriate search terms. Experimental trials suggest a synergistic interaction of green tea catechins with tamoxifen or raloxifene in the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive and estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer through estrogen receptor-dependent and -independent mechanisms. No evidence of an interaction of green tea catechins with aromatase inhibitors or fulvestrant has been reported. As green tea catechins are natural compounds with a rather favorable safety profile, the strategy of co-administrating green tea catechins with tamoxifen seems to be a rational approach in chemoprevention, adjuvant and metastatic breast cancer treatment that needs further investigation. i 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel

A Presurgical Study of Lecithin Formulation of Green Tea Extract in Women with Early Breast Cancer

“…Several authors have addressed the hypothesis of adding green tea to breast cancer therapy (34,35). In particular, the coadministration of green tea and tamoxifen seems to improve the outcomes in breast cancer cell lines (36,37) and animal models (38,39).…”

Chemoprevention of Breast Cancer With Vitamins and Micronutrients: A Concise Review

“…Evidence from several laboratory studies has demonstrated the strong chemopreventive and potentially cancer chemotherapeutic effects of the major green tea constituent, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), against breast cancer (70). Most experimental data have shown that green polyphenols can modulate multiple signalling pathways and regulate the growth, survival and metastasis of cancer cell at multiple levels (71,72).…”

EGFR inhibition by (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate and IIF treatments reduces breast cancer cell invasion

“…EGCG also targets molecules that regulate cell motility, invasion and metastasis, such as the HER family, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), 67-kDa laminin receptor (67LR) and the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway [8–12]. Furthermore, EGCG is an interesting molecule for adjuvant combined therapies, as it can improve the efficacy of chemotherapeutics currently used in cancer therapy (tamoxifen, doxorubicin and cisplatinum) by promoting synergistic cytotoxic effects [13–16]. The strategy of combining EGCG with chemotherapeutics might become a potential vehicle to reduce drug-related toxicities in patients treated for cancer.…”