Catechins and the treatment of breast cancer: possible utility and mechanistic targets.

Breast cancer is a disease that is in need of novel treatment strategies and the use of the catechins epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC) and epicatechin gallate (ECG) is currently being investigated as a potential therapy. The catechins reduce the proliferation of human breast cancer cells in vitro and decrease breast tumor growth in rodents. Furthermore, in vitro studies have demonstrated that the combination of EGCG and tamoxifen is synergistically cytotoxic to ERalpha- breast cancer cells. These results suggest that the catechins have significant potential in the treatment of breast cancer. The mechanisms of these effects are considered and the possible future development of these compounds is explored.