Can a green tea compound temporarily slow the growth and movement of oral cancer cells in the laboratory?

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Green tea is widely consumed worldwide for its health benefits. Its active ingredient, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), is a major polyphenol previously shown to inhibit the growth of various non-oral cancer cell lines and interfere with the carcinogenic process, including downregulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This study aimed to identify changes in the observable behavior of oral cancer cells treated with EGCG while also assessing EGFR expression and activation.

In this in vitro experiment, oral cancer cell lines H400 and H357 were treated with 10 µg/mL and 20 µg/mL EGCG for up to 72 hours. The researchers assessed changes using cell proliferation analysis and cell migration (Transwell) assays. They measured expression of EGFR and its phosphorylated form, p-EGFR, using Western blotting.

At 48 hours, treatment with 20 µg/mL EGCG significantly reduced cell proliferation in both cell lines. However, after 72 hours of treatment, EGCG's effect on cell proliferation ceased. Both 10 µg/mL and 20 µg/mL EGCG significantly reduced cell migration in both cell lines. EGFR expression did not change significantly after EGCG treatment, but its phosphorylated form decreased.

The authors concluded that EGCG transiently inhibits both proliferation and migration of oral cavity cancer cells. This effect was associated with decreased expression of phosphorylated EGFR. They proposed that more frequent bursts of EGCG might produce persistent, sustained cancer inhibition, but stated that further research is needed to clarify this possibility.