Antitumor activity of the tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate encapsulated in targeted vesicles after intravenous administration

The therapeutic potential of epigallocatechin gallate, a green tea polyphenol with anti-cancer properties, is limited by its inability to specifically reach tumors following intravenous administration. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a tumor-targeted vesicular formulation of epigallocatechin gallate would suppress the growth of A431 epidermoid carcinoma and B16-F10 melanoma in vitro and in vivo. Transferrin-bearing vesicles encapsulating epigallocatechin gallate were intravenously administered to mice bearing subcutaneous A431 and B16-F10 tumors. The intravenous administration of epigallocatechin gallate encapsulated in transferrin-bearing vesicles resulted in tumor suppression for 40% of A431 and B16-F10 tumors. Animal survival was improved by more than 20 days compared to controls. Encapsulation of epigallocatechin gallate in transferrin-bearing vesicles is a promising therapeutic strategy.