title: Biophysical Approach to Mechanisms of Cancer Prevention and Treatment with Green Tea Catechins.
abstract: Green tea catechin and green tea extract are now recognized as non-toxic cancer preventives for humans. We first review our brief historical development of green tea cancer prevention. Based on exciting evidence that green tea catechin, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in drinking water inhibited lung metastasis of B16 melanoma cells, we and other researchers have studied the inhibitory mechanisms of metastasis with green tea catechins using biomechanical tools, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and microfluidic optical stretcher. Specifically, determination of biophysical properties of cancer cells, low cell stiffness, and high deformability in relation to migration, along with biophysical effects, were studied by treatment with green tea catechins. The study with AFM revealed that low average values of Young's moduli, indicating low cell stiffness, are closely associated with strong potential of cell migration and metastasis for various cancer cells. It is important to note that treatments with EGCG and green tea extract elevated the average values of Young's moduli resulting in increased stiffness (large elasticity) of melanomas and various cancer cells. We discuss here the biophysical basis of multifunctions of green tea catechins and green tea extract leading to beneficial effects for cancer prevention and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Shimo-okubo 255, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan. masami0306@mail.saitama-u.ac.jp.|Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Ina, Kitaadachi-gun, Saitama 362-0806, Japan. masami0306@mail.saitama-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suganuma
authors.affiliation: Saitama Prefectural Tea Research Institute, Kamiyaganuki 244-2, Iruma, Saitama 358-0042, Japan. takahashi.atsushi@pref.saitama.lg.jp.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, Japan. TATSURO.WATANABE@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Tatsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Shimo-okubo 255, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan. keyiida@mail.saitama-u.ac.jp.|Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Ina, Kitaadachi-gun, Saitama 362-0806, Japan. keyiida@mail.saitama-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Saitama University, Shimo-okubo 255, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan. taka.chem@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Takahisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Saitama University, Shimo-okubo 255, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan. hiroshi@mail.saitama-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroshi Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, Japan. uv4h-fjk@asahi-net.or.jp.
authors.forename: Hirota
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujiki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001669:Biochemical Phenomena; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D044085:Microfluidics; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D013662:Tea; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate
keywords: AFM; EGCG; adhesion; durotaxis; fluidity; membrane stiffness; metastasis; migration; rigidity; wound healing