Green Tea could delay prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer someone can get. Studies have now shown that Green Tea could delay the effects of prostate cancer on a person.

According to Reuters:

Active compounds in green tea may slow down the progression of prostate cancer, researchers reported on Friday.

Capsules made using green tea extracts called polyphenols lowered levels of proteins that tumors use to grow, the researchers found.

Made by Polyphenon Pharma, the capsules called Polyphenon E contain epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG, a green tea extract that has antioxidant properties.

Jim Cardelli of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport and colleagues tested 26 prostate cancer patients, aged from 41 to 68.

Each took four Polyphenon E capsules a day — equivalent to drinking 12 cups of green tea — for about a month before they had their prostates removed.

Blood tests showed levels of three proteins associated with the growth and spread of prostate cancer fell. Hepatocyte growth factor or HGF fell 18.9 percent on average, vascular endothelial growth factor or VEGF fell by 9.9 percent and prostate specific antigen PSA fell by 10.4 percent, they reported in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.

HGF and VEGF are produced when tumors spread and some patients showed "significant" reduction levels of more than 30 percent, Cardelli said.

Few side effects were reported and liver function of the patients remained normal.

"It’s still in an early stage. Green tea can keep cancer from growing very fast, but it may not be able to shrink tumors," Cardelli said in a telephone interview.

"But it can be a good addition to traditional therapies, like chemo (chemotherapy) or radiation."

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among American men. The American Cancer Society projects prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 192,280 men and will kill 27,360 in 2009.

The test in 26 prostate cancer patients was a small trial and bigger studies would be needed to confirm the results.

Green Tea could help millions of people delay the effects of prostate cancer. Perhaps this study will even open the way for people to cure prostate cancer or at least live semi normal lives by consuming green tea and incorporating green tea into their every day diet.

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Prostrate Cancer Drug

Many men who suffer from prostrate cancer may have new found hope in new drug, Abiraterone. Prostrate Cancer is very hard to treat and a lot of times it proves to be fatal for men who contract prostrate cancer. The new hope comes to men who are suffering from prostrate cancer following the trials of the new drug.

The preliminary trials have found that Abiraterone can reverse even the most aggressive types of the disease. Which is very good news for men who are suffering from this disease and their family members who also suffer as a result of this disease.

The drug could be successful in up to 80% of patients with a deadly form of the disease which is resistant to currently available chemotherapy.

Prostate cancer affects thousands of men every year.