Research progress on epigallocatechin-3-gallate in the prevention and treatment of oral cancer

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and other functions. EGCG and its anticancer mechanism are hot research topics in the prevention and treatment of oral cancer. In this paper, the prevention and treatment effects of EGCG on oral cancer and its anticancer mechanism are reviewed. The results show that EGCG can regulate multiple cell metabolic signaling pathways, such as the G protein coupled receptor signaling pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and the Wnt signaling pathway, and it can regulate DNA methylation and act on RNA of oral cancer cells directly or indirectly through the oral cancer cell signal transduction network to inhibit the development of oral precancerous lesions and oral cancer. EGCG combined with 5-fluorouracil can enhance the curative effect and reduce adverse effects and is expected to be a new drug for the prevention and treatment of oral cancer.