# Effects of Epigallocatechin Gallate Against Lung Cancer: Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Potential

**Authors:** Dordaneh Mirbabaei Ghafghazi, Newman Siu Kwan Sze, Evangelia Tsiani

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/nu18030378 · Nutrients · 2026-01-23

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how EGCG, a compound in green tea, may help fight lung cancer by stopping cancer cell growth and boosting traditional treatments.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of EGCG's mechanisms and therapeutic potential in lung cancer.

## Key findings

- EGCG inhibits lung cancer cell proliferation and induces apoptosis.
- EGCG modulates key signaling pathways like EGFR, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB.
- EGCG enhances chemotherapy efficacy and reduces drug resistance in lung cancer.

## Abstract

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major bioactive polyphenol in green tea, has garnered significant attention for its potential anticancer properties. This review summarizes the current evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials examining the effects of EGCG on lung cancer. EGCG exerts its anticancer effects through various mechanisms, including the inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, suppression of metastasis, and modulation of signalling pathways such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Additionally, EGCG has been shown to enhance the efficacy of conventional chemotherapeutic agents and mitigate drug resistance. However, challenges related to its bioavailability and metabolic stability remain. Ultimately, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the effects of EGCG against lung cancer.

## Linked entities

- **Proteins:** EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), PIK3CA (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha), AKT1 (AKT serine/threonine kinase 1), MAPK (mitogen activated kinase-like protein), NFKB1 (nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1)
- **Chemicals:** Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (PubChem CID 65064), EGCG (PubChem CID 65064)
- **Diseases:** lung cancer (MONDO:0005138)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) [NCBI Gene 1956] {aka ERBB, ERBB1, ERRP, HER1, NISBD2, NNCIS}, PTK2B (protein tyrosine kinase 2 beta) [NCBI Gene 2185] {aka CADTK, CAKB, FADK2, FAK2, PKB, PTK}, NFKB1 (nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1) [NCBI Gene 4790] {aka CVID12, EBP-1, KBF1, NF-kB, NF-kB1, NF-kappa-B1}, PIK3CB (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit beta) [NCBI Gene 5291] {aka P110BETA, PI3K, PI3KBETA, PIK3C1}, AKT1 (AKT serine/threonine kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 207] {aka AKT, PKB, PKB-ALPHA, PRKBA, RAC, RAC-ALPHA}
- **Diseases:** metastasis (MESH:D009362), Lung Cancer (MESH:D008175)
- **Chemicals:** EGCG (MESH:C045651), polyphenol (MESH:D059808)

## Full text

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## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12899071/full.md

## References

98 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12899071/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12899071