Synergistic effects of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate with (-)-epicatechin, sulindac, or tamoxifen on cancer-preventive activity in the human lung cancer cell line PC-9

The study on incorporation of [H-3](-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) into human lung cancer cell line PC-9 indicated that the [H-3]EGCG incorporatio n was significantly enhanced by (-)-epicatechin, an inert tea polyphenol wi thout a galloyl moiety, (-)-Epicatechin enhanced apoptosis, growth inhibiti on of PC-9 cells, and inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha release fro m BALB/c-3T3 cells by EGCG and other tea polyphenols with a galloyl moiety in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the effects of EGCG on induction of a poptosis were also synergistically enhanced by other cancer-preventive agen ts, such as sulindac and tamoxifen, This paper reports significant evidence that whole green tea is a more reasonable mixture of tea polyphenols for c ancer prevention in humans than EGCG alone and that it is even more effecti ve when it is used in combination with other cancer preventives.