Modulation of signaling pathways in prostate cancer by green tea polyphenols

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignancy found in American men and the risk factors for PCa include age, family history, ethnicity, hormonal status, diet and lifestyle. For the successful development of cancer-preventive/therapeutic approaches, consumption of dietary agents capable of inhibiting or delaying the growth and proliferation of cancer cells without significantly affecting normal cells could be an effective strategy. Polyphenols derived from green tea, termed as green tea polyphenols (GTP) have received great attention in recent years for their beneficial effects, in particular, their significant involvement in cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy. Several studies have reported beneficial effects of GTP using in vitro and in vivo approaches and in human clinical trials. Among green tea catechins, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is best studied for its cancer preventive properties. In this review article, we present available scientific literature about the effects of GTP and EGCG on signaling pathways in PCa. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.