Green tea extract, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, inhibits the growth and invasive ability of human glioma cells.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a major constituent of green tea, but its effects on glioma cell growth have not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer effect of EGCG on the growth and invasive ability of glioma cells, as well as the molecular mechanisms responsible for it. Two glioma cell lines were treated with EGCG, and its effect on cell proliferation and invasive ability was studied using the MTT, Matrigel invasion and 3-D collagen colony forming assays. Our results demonstrate that EGCG treatment leads to a decrease in cell viability and the S-phase cell fraction in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, invasive ability was significantly suppressed in the EGCG-treated cells. Furthermore, the anticancer effect of EGCG was associated with increased expression of p27 and E-cadherin. Our results suggest that EGCG is a potential anticancer agent against glioma, and that its effect may be mediated through the upregulation of p27 and E-cadherin.