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5120981 
Journal Article 
[Prevention of chinese green tea on 3,4-benzopyrene-induced lung cancer and its mechanism in animal mode.] 
Gu, Q; Hu, C; Chen, Q; Xia, Y; Feng, J; Yang, H 
2008 
1 
Zhongguo Feiyan Zazhi
ISSN: 1009-3419 
11 
4 
519-523 
Chinese 
20735961 
BACKGROUND: Chinese green tea is one of the daily consumption beverages in the world and is considered a promising cancer chemopreventive agent. In the present study, we investigate the role of lung cancer prevention by green tea and its mechanism.

METHODS: Three groups of female SD rats were kept with the same feed. Rats in group A were administrated with 1% green tea drinking, while in group B and group C with water only. Animals in group A and group B were given 3,4-benzopyrene-corn oil mixture pulmonary injection fortnightly for 4 times, while in group C corn oil only. Rats were sacrificed 1 year after the first injection under narcotism. Lung tumors and lung tissues were performed H&E staining for cancer identification. Each case of lung cancer was examined for expression of p53 and Bcl-2 with in situ hybridization analysis and immunohistochemistry staining.

RESULTS: No cancer was found in rats in group C. However, in group B, 15 out of 20 rats were found generating lung cancer, and in group A, 6 out of 20 rats inducing lung cancer were recorded. The rate of lung carcinogenesis in rats was decreased from 75% to 30% by 1% chinese green tea oral administration (Chi-Square=8.12, P <0.01). Higher level of p53 expression in lung cancer tissues of group A was observed under microscope than that of group B, but the difference has no statistic significance (P >0.05). However, significantly lower level of Bcl-2 expression was found in lung cancer tissues of group A than that of group B (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that chinese green tea inhibits lung carcinogenesis. Chinese green tea can slightly upregulate expression of p53, but significantly downregulate expression of Bcl-2 in lung cancer, and this may be related to the mechanism of lung cancer prevention. 
Bcl-2; Green tea; Lung neoplasms; p53