Table 2.
In vivo studies on the antitumor effects of EGCG on HCC
| Animal models | Drug | Dose of EGCG | Effects | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spontaneous hepatoma in C3H/HeNCrj mice | EGCG | 0.05% (w:w) or 0.1% EGCG in drinking water | EGCG reduced the incidence of hepatoma-bearing mice and the average number of hepatomas | 36 |
| Xenograft mouse model (HLE cells injected into the dorsal subcutaneous tissue of mice) | EGCG | 0, 0.8, 2.5, and 7.5 mg/mL ad libitum for 25 days | EGCG inhibited tumor growth, induced apoptosis, and downregulated BCL2α and BCLxL expression, EGCG sensitized HLE cells to TRAIL (100 ng/mL)-mediated apoptosis | 40 |
| Xenograft mouse model (BEL7404/Dox HCC cells subcutaneously injected into the right axilla of mice) | EGCG + Dox | Dox alone (2 mg/kg IP), EGCG alone (80 mg/kg IP), Dox + EGCG (40, 80, 160 mg/kg OG) | EGCG enhanced Dox anticancer activity, downregulated HIF1α, and upregulated MDR1 expression | 51 |
| Xenograft mouse model (SMMC7721 or Hep3B cells subcutaneously injected in mice) | EGCG | 20 mg/kg IP three times a week for 4 weeks | EGCG enhanced anticancer activity of Dnr and reduced cardiotoxicity | 52 |
| Xenograft mouse model (Huh7 cells subcutaneously injected in mice) | Methyl-EGCG | 1.1 mg/kg IP 8.3 mg/kg PO | Methyl-EGCG suppressed tumor growth in Huh7 hepatoma cells via inhibition of angiogenesis | 55 |
| Xenograft mouse model (Hep3B cells per mouse in the right fossa axillaries) | EGCG + Dox | EGCG 50 mg/kg, OG; Dox 2 mg/kg IP | EGCG synergistically enhanced Dox anticancer effects involving autophagy inhibition | 46 |
| SD rats with HCC induced by thioacetamide (200 mg/kg) | EGCG | EGCG 20 mg/kg or sodium ascorbate 100 mg/kg IP twice per week for 16 weeks | EGCG blocked HCC-induced elevation of oxidative stress markers and induced HSPG activity | 8 |
| Xenograft model (HCC-LM3 cells subcutaneously injected in mice) | EGCG | EGCG (10 mg/kg/BW/day) or sorafenib (10 mg/kg/BW/day) | EGCG inhibited HCC-tumor growth and induced apoptosis in combination with sorafenib | 62 |
Abbreviations: BW, body weight; Dnr, daunorubicin; Dox, doxorubicin; EGCG, epigallocatechin-3-gallate; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; IP, intraperitoneally; OG, oral gavage; PO, per os (orally).