Interaction of Green Tea Catechins with Breast Cancer Endocrine Treatment: A Systematic Review

Recent data have shown strong chemopreventive and possibly cancer chemotherapeutic effects of green tea polyphenols and EGCG against breast cancer. This systematic review aims to synthesize data on the possible interaction of green tea catechins with breast cancer endocrine treatment. Electronic databases were searched with the appropriate search terms. Experimental trials suggest a synergistic interaction of green tea catechins with tamoxifen or raloxifene in the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive and estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer through estrogen receptor-dependent and -independent mechanisms. No evidence of an interaction of green tea catechins with aromatase inhibitors or fulvestrant has been reported. As green tea catechins are natural compounds with a rather favorable safety profile, the strategy of co-administrating green tea catechins with tamoxifen seems to be a rational approach in chemoprevention, adjuvant and metastatic breast cancer treatment that needs further investigation. (C) 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel