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(-)-Epigallocatechin (EGC) of green tea induces apoptosis of human breast cancer cells but not of their normal counterparts.
- Source :
-
Breast cancer research and treatment [Breast Cancer Res Treat] 2002 Dec; Vol. 76 (3), pp. 195-201. - Publication Year :
- 2002
-
Abstract
- (-)-Epigallocatechin (EGC), one of green tea polyphenols, has been shown to inhibit growth of cancer cells. However its mechanism of action is poorly known. We show here that EGC strongly inhibited the growth of breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) but not that of normal breast epithelial cells. The inhibition of breast cancer cell growth was due to an induction of apoptosis, without any change in cell cycle progression. MCF-7 cells are known to express a wild-type p53 whereas MDA-MB-231 cells express a mutated p53. The fact that EGC induced apoptosis in both these cell lines suggests that the EGC-triggered apoptosis is independent of p53 status. Moreover, neutralizing antibodies against the death receptor Fas and inhibitors of caspases, such as caspase-8 and -10, efficiently inhibited the EGC-triggered apoptosis. In addition, immunoblotting revealed that EGC treatment was correlated with a decrease in Bcl-2 and an increase in Bax level. These results suggest that EGC-triggered apoptosis in breast cancer cells requires Fas signaling.
- Subjects :
- Breast cytology
Breast metabolism
Breast Neoplasms genetics
Caspases metabolism
Cell Cycle drug effects
Cyclin D1 analysis
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Fatty Acid Synthases metabolism
Female
Humans
Proto-Oncogene Proteins analysis
Tumor Cells, Cultured drug effects
Tumor Cells, Cultured metabolism
bcl-2-Associated X Protein
Apoptosis drug effects
Breast Neoplasms metabolism
Catechin analogs & derivatives
Catechin pharmacology
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0167-6806
- Volume :
- 76
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Breast cancer research and treatment
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 12462380
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1020833410523