Tea polyphenols inhibit the growth and angiogenesis of breast cancer xenografts in a mouse model

To investigate the anti-angiogenic effect of tea polyphenols (TP_S) on breast cancer and normal tissues in a mouse model.

Breast cancer was successfully implanted into 48 BALB/c mice, which were then randomly divided into a TP oral gavage group, a TP local injection group, a ginsenoside Rg3 group, and a model control group according to a random number table. The tumor inhibitory rates of each group were calculated, while microvessel density (MVD) and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-2) were detected by immunohistochemistry.

TPs could inhibit the growth of breast cancer xenografts in the mouse model. The tumor inhibition rates of the TP oral gavage and TP local injection groups were 37.43% and 40.94%, respectively. Compared with the model control group, MVD and VEGF and bFGF expression was downregulated (all P < .05), whereas TIMP-2 expression was elevated in the TP oral gavage and TP local injection groups (P = .015 and P = .032). TPs showed no significant effect on MVD and VEGF and TIMP-2 expression in the heart, brain, and kidney of the mouse model.

TPs can restrict the growth of breast cancer by specifically inhibiting the angiogenesis of breast tumor tissue while having little effect on the normal tissue of important organs including the heart, brain, and kidney.