GLASGOW, Scotland
Tumors containing two types of skin cancer cells shrank or disappeared when researchers at the universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow applied a concentrated solution of EGCG.
They created a cell with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and transferrin, a protein that naturally targets and latches on to the surface of cancer cells, and applied it to tumors.
The combination made two-thirds of the tumors shrink or disappear and produced no side-effects on other cells or tissue.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, “tests were done on two types of skin cancer: epidermoid carcinoma which forms scales on the surface of the skin and melanoma which often develops in people who have moles on their skin.
In both studies, 40 per cent of tumors vanished, while 30 per cent of tumors in carcinoma cases and 20 per cent in melanoma cases shrank. A further 10 per cent of melanoma tumors were stabilized, so did not grow or shrink.
Lead researcher Dr. Christine Dufes, from the University of Strathclyde, said: 'These are very encouraging results which we hope could pave the way for new and effective cancer treatments.
'When we used our method, the green tea extract reduced the size of many of the tumours every day, in some cases removing them altogether. By contrast, the extract had no effect at all when it was delivered by other means, as every one of these tumors continued to grow.
'This research could open doors to new treatments for what is still one of the biggest killer diseases in many countries.'
The research is published in the medical journal Nanomedicine
Source: Daily Mail, Nanomedicine