Studies show that drinking moderate amounts of green tea and red wine have been shown to reduce prostate and other cancer growth. The study’s findings were published in the June 3rd edition of The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal (FASEB Journal).

According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), 1 in 6 men have been diagnosed with this specific type of cancer. Most of the men diagnosed with prostate cancer are over the age of 65. In fact, more than 65% of all the prostate cancer cases are in this age group. This study has helped scientists understand how polyphenols in green tea and red wine can prevent growth of prostate cancer. This occurs because the polyphenols in these beverages disrupt the cells in pathways in the cancer cells. Without these cells working correctly, the cancer cannot grow and develop.

This study can help scientists in their research as they work to develop drugs and treatments to prevent and reduce cancer. Specifically, this new understanding of polyphenols can help improve already developed drugs and treatments. It is believed to be able to help slow and even stop cancer progression in an individual’s body.

The polyphenols specifically affect the sphingosine kinase-1/sphingosine 1-phosphate (SphK1/S1P) pathway by slowing down the cancer cells development. Gerald Weissmann, MD, editor-in-chief of The FASEB Journal, said that SphK1/S1P plays a bigger role than just in prostate cancer: “Not only does SphK1/S1P signaling pathway play a role in prostate cancer, but it also plays a role in other cancers, such as colon cancer, breast cancer, and gastric cancers.”

Weissmann said that even if further testing shows that drinking red wine and green tea are not as important as they first realized, the study was still very enlightening. He said, “Knowing that the compounds in those drinks disrupt this pathway is an important step toward developing drugs that hit the same target.”

Different experiments were conducted to measure polyphenols’ effect on developed prostate cancer as well as a preventative measure. In the study where cancer has already developed, the scientists conducted vitro experiments to see if the polyphenols killed prostate cancer cells.

They specifically wanted to know if the SphK1/S1P pathways were needed for the polyphenols to work. After they determined the role of the pathway, mice were then genetically alerted to develop a prostate cancer tumor. Some mice were treated with the polyphenols from green tea and red wine. The polyphenols in the treated mice reduced the prostate cancer by using the pathway.

In the preventive study, the group of mice was divided and different groups were given water, water with a green tea compound called EGCG, and drinking water with green tea compound called polyphenon E. The prostate cancer was then injected into the mice and they were watched closely to see how the compounds worked. The study concluded that both green tea compounds showed that the tumor decreased. This research is an essential step forward to helping doctors understand cancer and how it progresses. These early tests will have to be repeated and confirmed before real conclusions can be drawn. The early findings, however, are very hopeful.

http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=15406

http://www.pcf.org/site/c.leJRIROrEpH/b.5802027/k.D271/Prostate_Cancer_Risk_Factors.htm