A preliminary study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (August 10, 2009; vol. 27, no. 23:3808–3814) explored the effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a concentrated polyphenol extracted from green tea, in patients with early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
The study included 33 patients who received EGCG at doses ranging from 400 to 2,000 mg, taken twice daily for eight days. Researchers monitored changes in lymphocyte counts and lymph node size as markers of disease activity.
Approximately one-third of participants experienced a reduction in lymphocyte counts of at least 20%. In addition, most patients with enlarged lymph nodes showed substantial decreases in lymph node size, with reductions of 50% or greater reported in this subgroup.
As an early-phase, short-duration study, these findings are considered preliminary and were not designed to assess long-term outcomes or clinical benefit. While the results suggest that EGCG may influence biological markers associated with CLL activity, further controlled trials would be needed to clarify safety, optimal dosing, and clinical relevance.
