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Green Tea- Apoptotis- Bladder Cancer

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“Compared to control-treated cells, treatment with catechin agents significantly suppressed cell growth in a dose-dependent fashion…”Translation, green tea kills bladder cancer…

According to the studies linked and excerpted below,   Green Tea, curcumin and resveratrol all cause apoptosis to bladder cancer cells. According to my experience, drinking a cup or two of green tea daily, eating curry for dinner (curcumin) or having a glass of red wine (resveratrol) will not amount to enough of the bladder cancer fighting green tea catechins you need to fight bladder cancer.

Let me explain. I underwent cytoxan chemotherapy for my cancer years ago. A common side effect of cytoxan is an increased risk of bladder cancer. My risk increases slightly every year. I underwent cytoxan back in 1995 so my risk of bladder cancer is pretty high by now.

I supplement with Life Extension Mega Green Tea in order to reduce (or eliminate?) my risk of bladder cancer. As of the writing of this blog post it has been over 22 years since I underwent cytoxan. So far, so good.

According to the study linked and excerpted below, it’s really as simple as that. The study below uses all sorts of medical research language but long story short, after 72 hours, “treatment with catechin agents (Green Tea ) significantly suppressed cell growth in a dose-dependent fashion…Translation- The more you drink or the greater the dose of Green Tea extract, the more bladder cancer is killed.

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Further, I take Life Extension Mega Green Tea Extract   because  this brand has been tested and approved by ConsumerLab.com an independent evaluation service. LEF Mega Green Tea has been well-reviewed on Amazon and is available through Amazon Prime (which I also use and recommend).

5% of anything you purchase on Amazon is donated to PeopleBeatingCancer, a 501C3 non-profit. Thank you.

I am both a cancer survivor and cancer coach.    Personal experience has taught me that cancer patients and survivors benefit from the best of both conventional and evidence-based non-conventional cancer therapies.

If you are in remission from bladder cancer, or if you have been diagnosed,  at any stage, with bladder cancer please read the study below and consider supplementing with this inexpensive therapy.

For more information about bladder cancer, both conventional and non-conventional therapies, please scroll down the page, post a question or comment and I will reply ASAP.

thank you,

David Emerson

  • Cancer Survivor
  • Cancer Coach
  • Director PeopleBeatingCancer

Recommended Reading:


Induction of apoptosis in human bladder cancer cells by green tea catechins.

” This in vitro study examined the antiproliferative/pro-apoptotic potential of green tea extract (GTE), polyphenon-60 (PP-60), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG) and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in both normal and malignant human bladder cells

Cell growth (proliferation/apoptosis) was measured in UROtsa (normal), SW780 (tumorigenic; low-grade), and TCCSUP (tumorigenic; high-grade) human bladder urothelial cells by cell proliferation (XTT) assay after treatment with 0-80 microg/mL of GTE, PP-60, ECG and EGCG for 72 h. Molecular signaling pathways of catechin-induced apoptosis were analyzed using Human signal transduction RT(2) Profiler PCR array (SuperArray). Compared to control-treated cells, treatment with catechin agents significantly suppressed cell growth in a dose-dependent fashion (P < 0.01), with strongest effects evoked by ECG and EGCG in UROtsa cells, ECG in low-grade RT4 and SW780 cells, and PP-60 and EGCG in high-grade TCCSUP and T24 cells…

Microarray analysis indicated distinct differences in mRNA gene expression regarding growth signaling pathway activation induced by EGCG in normal/tumorigenic human bladder cell lines, providing a rationale for the putative therapeutic usage of green tea polyphenols against bladder disease.”

Curcumin inhibits bladder cancer progression via regulation of β-catenin expression

“Bladder cancer has a considerable morbidity and mortality impact with particularly poor prognosis. Curcumin has been recently noticed as a polyphenolic compound separated from turmeric to regulate tumor progression.

However, the precise molecular mechanism by which curcumin inhibits the invasion and metastasis of bladder cancer cells is not fully elucidated. In this study, we investigate the effect of curcumin on the bladder cancer as well as possible mechanisms of curcumin….

In addition, bladder cancer cell lines T24 and 5637 cells were treated with different concentrations of curcumin. The cytotoxic effect of curcumin on cell proliferation of T24 and 5637 cells was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.

The migration and invasion capacity of T24 and 5637 cells were measured by transwell assay. The effects of curcumin on expression levels of β-catenin and epithelial–mesenchymal transition marker were determined by western blotting. The β-catenin expression was significantly upregulated in bladder cancer tissues when compared with corresponding peri-tumor tissues. Furthermore, curcumin inhibited the cell proliferation of T24 and 5637 cells, and curcumin reduced the migration and invasive ability of T24 and 5637 cells via regulating β-catenin expression and reversing epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Curcumin may be a new drug for bladder cancer.”

Antiproliferative and toxicogenomic effects of resveratrol in bladder cancer cells with different TP53 status

“The antitumor activity of resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found mainly in grapes, has been studied in several types of cancer. In bladder cancer, its antiproliferative effects have already been demonstrated; however, its mechanism of action is not completely understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate resveratrol antitumor activity (12.5, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 μM) and its possible mechanisms of action in bladder tumor cells with different TP53 gene status (RT4, grade 1, TP53 wild type; 5637-grade 2 and T24-grade 3, TP53 mutated)…

Resveratrol decreased cell proliferation and induced DNA damage in all cell lines.

Regarding the long-term effects, resveratrol reduced the number of colonies in all cell lines; however, TP53 wild type cells were more resistant. Increased rates of apoptosis were found in the TP53 wild type cells and this was accompanied by AKT, mTOR, and SRC downregulation…

In conclusion, resveratrol has antiproliferative activity in bladder tumor cells; however, the mechanisms of action are dependent on TP53 status.”

Leave a Comment:

11 comments
Hemorrhagic Cystitis aka Irritable Bladder - PeopleBeatingCancer says last year

[…] Green Tea (EGCG Catechins) Causes Apoptotis (kills) Bladder Cancer […]

Reply
joe says a couple of years ago

I have superficial bladder cancer and presently take the life extension mega green tea extract which is 725 mg. I take 1 pill in morning each day. Should I take more ? Thank you,
Joe

Reply
    David Emerson says a couple of years ago

    Hi Joe-

    I wrote that post to draw attention to non-toxic therapies to reduce the risk of bladder cancer. I underwent a chemo called cytoxan that increased my risk of bladder cancer. In addition to LEF Green Tea Extract, I also supplement with curcumin and resveratrol- both shown to reduce my risk of BC.

    Not sure what stage is “superficial” bladder cancer. However, it is important to point out that early stage cancers like BC respond well to therapy. I am NOT encouraging you to undergo chemotherapy at this point. What I am saying is for you to consider short term solutions such as TURBT if your BC is on the surface of the bladder wall. In addition to supplementation, nutrition and lifestyle therapies.

    https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/bladder-cancer/types-treatment

    Let me know if you have any questions- good luck Joe.

    David Emerson

    Reply
Michele says 5 years ago

My husband just had his third surgery for bladder cancer, diagnosed last year. Diagnosis..high grade papillary urothelial carcinoma with no diagnostic evidence of invasion identified. He is starting BCG intravesical immunotherapy on 9/10/18 for the next 6 weeks. What is your recommended dosage/protocol for taking green tea and green tea extract?

Reply
    David Emerson says 5 years ago

    Hi Michele,

    I am sorry to read of your husband’s bladder cancer diagnosis though glad to read that there is no evidence of “invasion.” Two things. In answer to your question about green tea dosing, as you can see from the quote below, the study that you came in on talks about time and dose dependant manner as well as different types of BC cells so there is no specific dose given for your situation. I follow the dose given on the label- 750 mg in the case of the brand linked in that study.

    The other issue I wanted to mention are other evidence-based, non-toxic supplements that integrate or synergize with BCM to enhance the efficacy of this therapy. Please read the study linked below and consider supplementing with curcumin as well as green tea extract.

    Curcumin potentiates the antitumor effects of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin against bladder cancer through the downregulation of NF-kappaB and upregulation of TRAIL receptors.


    “Compared to control-treated cells, treatment with catechin agents significantly suppressed cell growth in a dose-dependent fashion (P < 0.01), with strongest effects evoked by ECG and EGCG in UROtsa cells, ECG in low-grade RT4 and SW780 cells, and PP-60 and EGCG in high-grade TCCSUP and T24 cells..."

    Let me know if you have any questions. Hang in there,

    David Emerson
    Cancer Survivor
    Cancer Coach

    Reply
      Michele says 5 years ago

      How many mgs do you recommend of curcumin?

      Reply
        David Emerson says 5 years ago

        Hi Michele,

        Like the green tea study, the curcumin study cites no specific dose, only a “time and dose dependant manner.” All I can offer is my own personal experience. I take one capsule (450 mg) and I have since 2006. I have read of many patients with my cancer taking between 2-8 grams. 1000 mg (miligrams) equals one gram. My point is that curcumin seems to be safe and well tolerated at higher doses.

        Each of the non-toxic nutritional supplements in the CC Supplement Guide has been shown to by cytotoxic (kill) bladder cancer.

        “Curcuma longa (also called turmeric), has potential to improve the current therapy using in vitro and in vivo MBT-2 murine tumor models. We found that curcumin potentiated BCG-induced apoptosis of human bladder cancer cells. BCG stimulated the release of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) from peripheral mononuclear neutrophils in a dose- and time-dependent manner,”

        Let me know if you have any other questions.

        David Emerson

        Reply
Lisa says 6 years ago

Thanks, David. I’m in the stage of “waiting” for biopsy results from a NCI facility after my local hospital can’t say anymore than “atypical.” I’m a BIG black tea drinker, but thinking I need to change to green. Great read and I thank you for your time spent in this research.

Reply
    David Emerson says 6 years ago

    Hi Lisa-

    Atypical probably means that you are early stage at most. Perhaps pre- or not at all. Both green and black teas has anti-cancer properties.

    Good luck,

    David Emerson

    Reply
Erik l Hopp says 7 years ago

Thank You David.

I have had bleeding for about four months now,but just started drinking four good/big cups of Chinese green tea each day.The bleeding has almost stopped completely.I am going to order Garlic supplements off the internet to help shrink the tumor.I live and teach here in China.

Thanks,

Erik

Reply
    David Emerson says 7 years ago

    Hi Erik-

    Good luck.

    David Emerson

    Reply
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