Green Tea Component Kills Leukemia Cells

June 7, 2004

Thu Apr 8, 7:03 PM ET

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THURSDAY, April 8 (HealthDayNews) -- A component of green tea helps kill cells

of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the second most common leukemia in

American adults, according to new research

Mayo Clinic researchers found that the component, called

epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), destroys leukemia cells by interrupting the

communication signals they need to survive. The research appears online in the

journal Blood.

CLL is most often diagnosed in people in their mid-to-late 60s. Chemotherapy is

used to treat the most severe cases, but there is no cure for CLL.

In this study, the Mayo scientists found that EGCG prompted leukemia cells to

die in eight of 10 patient samples tested in a laboratory.

" We're continuing to look for therapeutic agents that are nontoxic to the

patient but kill cancer cells, and this finding with EGCG is an excellent

start, " study leader Dr. Neil E. Kay said in a prepared statement.

" Understanding this mechanism and getting these positive early results gives us

a lot to work with in terms of offering patients with this disease more

effective, easily tolerated therapies earlier. "

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute (news - web sites) has more about CLL.

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