Molecules 2016, 21(11), 1566; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21111566
Biophysical Approach to Mechanisms of Cancer Prevention and Treatment with Green Tea Catechins
Masami Suganuma 1,2,*
, Atsushi Takahashi 3, Tatsuro Watanabe 4, Keisuke Iida 1,2, Takahisa Matsuzaki 5, Hiroshi Y. Yoshikawa 5 and Hirota Fujiki 4
, Atsushi Takahashi 3, Tatsuro Watanabe 4, Keisuke Iida 1,2, Takahisa Matsuzaki 5, Hiroshi Y. Yoshikawa 5 and Hirota Fujiki 41
Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Shimo-okubo 255, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
2
Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Ina, Kitaadachi-gun, Saitama 362-0806, Japan
3
Saitama Prefectural Tea Research Institute, Kamiyaganuki 244-2, Iruma, Saitama 358-0042, Japan
4
Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, Japan
5
Department of Chemistry, Saitama University, Shimo-okubo 255, Sakura-ku, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Derek J. McPhee
Received: 29 September 2016 / Revised: 26 October 2016 / Accepted: 9 November 2016 / Published: 18 November 2016
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catechins and Human Health: Current State of the Science)
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. View Full-TextKeywords:
AFM; adhesion; durotaxis; EGCG; fluidity; membrane stiffness; metastasis; migration; rigidity; wound healing
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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. (CC BY 4.0).
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Suganuma, M.; Takahashi, A.; Watanabe, T.; Iida, K.; Matsuzaki, T.; Yoshikawa, H.Y.; Fujiki, H. Biophysical Approach to Mechanisms of Cancer Prevention and Treatment with Green Tea Catechins. Molecules 2016, 21, 1566.
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