Results of an early phase clinical study released in August by the Arizona Cancer Center indicate that green tea may help prevent cancer in humans.

The research shows that in some people, high doses of the green tea component epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) increase the activity of a detoxification enzyme called glutathione S-transferase.

"This particular detoxification enzyme is responsible for getting rid of toxic chemicals - carcinogens," said Dr. Sherry Chow, research associate professor at the Cancer Center and principal investigator for the study.

Prior studies on animals have demonstrated green tea's detoxification properties, Chow said.

In the new study, 42 people were recruited and asked to refrain from consuming tea, she said.

Prostate Cancer Prevention Via Diet And Medication

Recent investigations of medications, diet and the molecular understanding of prostate cancer are defining potential prevention strategies for the disease, and herald a new stage in the management of this cancer, according to a new review. Writing in the November 1, 2007 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, Dr. Neil Fleshner and Dr. Alexandre Zlotta from the University of Toronto say that available medications, such as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and selective estrogen receptor modifiers, show promise in reducing malignancies. In addition, there is strong evidence that dietary fat significantly impacts disease development and promising data that other compounds, such as soy, selenium and green tea, offer additional possibilities for disease prevention.

Prostate cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies in men among Western, developed nations.