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(–)-Epigallocatechin Gallate Suppresses Azoxymethane-Induced Colonic Premalignant Lesions in Male C57BL/KsJ-db/db Mice

Authors' Affiliations: Departments of ¹ Medicine, and ² Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine; ³ BMR Laboratories, Sunplanet Co., Gifu, Japan; and ⁴ Department of Oncologic Pathology, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, Japan

Requests for reprints: Masahito Shimizu, Department of Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan. Phone: 81-58-230-6313; Fax: 81-58-230-6310; E-mail: shimim-gif{at}umin.ac.jp.

Obesity and diabetes mellitus are risk factors for colon cancer. The activation of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)/IGF-IR axis plays a critical role in this carcinogenesis. (–)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the major constituent of green tea, seems to have both antiobesity and antidiabetic effects. This study examined the effects of EGCG on the development of azoxymethane-induced colonic premalignant lesions in C57BL/KsJ-db/db (db/db) mice, which are obese and develop diabetes mellitus. Male db/db mice were given four weekly s.c. injections of azoxymethane (15 mg/kg body weight) and then they received drinking water containing 0.01% or 0.1% EGCG for 7 weeks. At sacrifice, drinking water with EGCG caused a significant decrease in the number of total aberrant crypt foci, large aberrant crypt foci, and β-catenin accumulated crypts in these mice, all of which are premalignant lesions of the colon. The colonic mucosa of db/db mice expressed high levels of the IGF-IR, phosphorylated form of IGF-IR (p-IGF-IR), p-GSK-3β, β-catenin, cyclooxygenase-2, and cyclin D1 proteins, and EGCG in drinking water caused a marked decrease in the expression of these proteins. Treating these mice with EGCG also caused an increase in the serum level of IGFBP-3 while conversely decreasing the serum levels of IGF-I, insulin, triglyceride, cholesterol, and leptin. EGCG overcomes the activation of the IGF/IGF-IR axis, thereby inhibiting the development of colonic premalignant lesions in an obesity-related colon cancer model, which was also associated with hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperleptinemia. EGCG may be, therefore, useful in the chemoprevention or treatment of obesity-related colorectal cancer.

Key Words: EGCG • Obesity • Colorectal cancer • Chemoprevention • IGF/IGF-IR axis

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