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(−)-Epigallocatechin (EGC) of Green Tea Induces Apoptosis of Human Breast Cancer Cells But Not of their Normal Counterparts

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement (UPRES-EA 1033), Equipe Polyphénols, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France

    David Vergote, Valérie Chopin, Robert-Alain Toillon, Hubert Hondermarck & Xuefen Le Bourhis

  2. Laboratoire de Chimie Organique et Macromoléculaire (UPRESA-8009 CNRS), Equipe Polyphénols, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France

    Cécile Cren-Olivé & Christian Rolando

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  1. David Vergote
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  2. Cécile Cren-Olivé
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  3. Valérie Chopin
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  4. Robert-Alain Toillon
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  5. Christian Rolando
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  6. Hubert Hondermarck
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  7. Xuefen Le Bourhis
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Vergote, D., Cren-Olivé, C., Chopin, V. et al. (−)-Epigallocatechin (EGC) of Green Tea Induces Apoptosis of Human Breast Cancer Cells But Not of their Normal Counterparts. Breast Cancer Res Treat 76, 195–201 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020833410523

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