Cancer

Green Tea Slows, Prevents Certain Cancers

A biological agent of green tea—called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)—alters the metabolism of cancer cells, slowing the spread of the disease as well as reducing overall cancer risk, according to a new study.

EGCG reduces cancer progression by suppressing the expression of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), an enzyme associated with several forms of cancer, including pancreatic cancer. 
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“Because of its essential role in cancer metabolism, LDHA has been considered to be a potential target for cancer therapy,” according to researchers from the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute.1

While previous studies have shown the potential benefits of green tea extract in cancer patients, none have been able to identify how the substance affects cancer progression. 

Using stable, isotope-based, dynamic metabolic profiling, researchers compared the effects of EGCG with oxamate—an inhibitor of LDHA—on extracellular lactate production, glucose consumption, and intracellular aspartate and glutamate production. 

They found that EGCG significantly disrupts the flux—the rate of turnover of molecules—of the metabolic network in cancer cells at rates comparable to oxamate treatment.  

“This is an entirely new way of looking at metabolism,” researchers concluded.2

“It is no longer a case of glucose goes in and energy comes out. Now we understand how cancer cell metabolism can be disrupted, and we can examine how we can use this knowledge to try to alter the course of cancer or prevent cancer.”

–Michael Potts

  1. Lu Q, Zhang L, Yee JK, et al. Metabolic consequences of LDHA inhibition by epigallocatechin gallate and oxamate in MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells. Metabolomics. 2014 May 30 [epub ahead of print] doi:10.1007/s11306-014-0672-8
  2. LA BioMed. Study explains how green tea could reduce pancreatic cancer risk—findings open a new area for research into cancer prevention [press release]. 2014 May 30. http://labiomed.org/2014/05/30/study-explains-how-green-tea-could-reduce-pancreatic-cancer-risk-findings-open-a-new-area-for-research-into-cancer-prevention/. Accessed June 2, 2014.