title: Cancer prevention by tea: animal  studies, molecular mechanisms and  human relevance.
abstract: Extracts of tea, especially green tea, and tea polyphenols have been shown to inhibit the formation and development of tumours at different organ sites in animal models. There is considerable evidence that tea polyphenols, in particular (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, inhibit enzyme activities and signal transduction pathways, resulting in the suppression of cell proliferation and enhancement of apoptosis, as well as the inhibition of cell invasion,angiogenesis and metastasis. Here, we review these biological activities and existing data relating tea consumption to human cancer risk in an attempt to understand the potential use of tea for cancer prevention.
authors.affiliation: Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory of Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 164 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8020, USA. csyang@rci.rutgers
authors.forename: Chung S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Sonia C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Picinich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate