According to researchers, it has been recently found that polyphenon E, a polyphenol that is present in green tea, plays a significant role in slowing down the development of prostate cancer. In fact, polyphenon E significantly reduces cancer progression’s bio-markers, which include Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). This has been well-supported by the latest edition of the Cancer Prevention Research. As a result of this new discovery, researchers concluded that polyphenon E is crucial for the treatment as well as prevention of prostate cancer and thus consuming green tea can be very beneficial for the purpose.

Some of the previous studies stated that green tea is related to reduce incidents of prostate cancer and the polyphenols present in it is being regarded as a useful cancer therapy source. But this fact is still inconclusive. In the year 2008, FDA said that because people usually consume green tea in very small quantities, the evidences about benefits of green tea are uncertain. After this statement from the FDA, researchers started conducting a single arm, open label phase II trial for determining the effect of active compounds present in green tea on the serum bio-markers of prostate cancer patients, if consumed in small quantities. The biomarkers involved are prostate specific antigen or PSA, hepatocyte growth factor or HGF and vascular endothelial growth factor or VEGF.

During the experiment, 26 prostate cancer patients age between 41 to 68 years underwent radical prostatectomy. The patients were asked to take four capsules of Polyphenon E daily until the date of their surgery arrived. Researchers said that 4 capsules are almost equivalent to 12 cups green tea. As a result, researchers found significant decrease in the levels of serum for all the 3 biomarkers. It was noted that 10 out of 25 patients received more than 25% decrease in their HGF levels and 6 out of 25 patients received more than 25% reduction in their levels of VEGF.

Researcher explained that ECCG which is a major catechin in polyphenon E that present in green tea is able to rapidly block the production of HGF. EGCG is also responsible for blocking VEGF production that plays a crucial role in cancer associated fibro-blasts. It was also found that time on medicines, race and age did not significant effects on changes in the serum bio-markers.

It is stated in some studies that, if taken in high doses, EGCG may even adversely affect the functioning of the liver, but according to this study, all the markers of dysfunction of liver have significantly decreased, especially total protein, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, albumin and aspartate aminotransferase. This proved that the doses used in the study are safe said Dr. Cardelli.

Since the result was obtained with concentrated active ingredients, Dr Cardelli also raised the question whether this can be translated into drinking 12 cup of green daily. Although the data from the study support the role of green in prostate cancer treatment and prevention, the effects of long-term administration, different doses and mixing with other medicines still need to be seen.

According to scientists, providing increased amounts of Vitamin D to individuals could help in reducing breast cancer by about 1/4 and reduce the occurrence of bowel cancer by about 1/3. These statements are based on the results of about 2750 previous researches which involved vitamin D. Result from the study indicate that intake of vitamin supplements on daily basis, could play a vital role in preventing cancer.

Vitamin D commonly known as ‘bottled sunshine’ – is produced by the reaction between sun ray on the individual’s skin. Thus people living in countries which have long winter conditions such as the United Kingdom often found to be deficient in the amount of vitamin D present in their bodies due to lack of adequate sunshine during the months of October to March.

A joint task force from United States and Canada is currently examining and exploring whether the prescribed levels of vitamin intake by individual’s which is currently at 200-600 IUs per day could be increased. The same amount of vitamin level is suggested in the United Kingdom as well; however the official policy in UK states that sunlight and having a healthy diet containing eggs and oily fish are adequate in helping achieve the daily vitamin level in most individuals. Yet, some medical experts and doctors feel that the level of vitamin D intake should be 5-10 times more than current suggested amount.

Professor Garland along and his colleagues suggest in the Annals of Epidemiology that increasing the current daily level of vitamin intake to about 2000 IUs (which is the present maximum level that is recommended in countries such as Canada) would help in preventing around 200,000 cases involving breast cancer and about 250,000 instances regarding bowel cancer a year all over the world.

Professor Garland added that while he used to travel from California towards the east coast as a young doctor he found that bowel cancer was more common in the northern and eastern parts as compared to the southern and the western parts. Professor Garland and his brother assumed that weather and climate of a region plays a role in the development of these types of cancers.  However after about 25 years, their idea has been proven to be correct and people have started paying more attention towards the condition.

Vitamin D over the years has attracted increased levels of attention due to the fact that it helps in preventing various forms of cancer and other conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. This research has put increased levels of pressure to investigate the link

China’s Ministry of   Science and Technology confirmed that the country has pioneered an oral vaccine associated with gastric cancer. The vaccine will shield people from infection caused by Helicobacter pylori. This particular bacterium nestles in the stomach and cause formation of duodenal, gastric ulcers and stomach cancer. The Science and Technology Ministry has suggested that the oral vaccine is a vanguard formula is the first of its kind to pass through large-scale phase-3 clinical trials and become a ratified medicine.

China’s Food and Drug Administration has already classified the medicine as “first-grade new medicine”. A research squad from Chongqing-based Third Military Medical University has put forth the vaccine. Professor Zou Quanming lead the team. Consolidated effort of one and a half decade has resulted in the preparation of this drug. While being researched upon, the medicine had already cornered 8 national patents and presently holds complete rights to it’s intellectual property.

With a shielding rate of nearly 72.1 percent against Helicobacter pylori, the vaccine would soon be commercialized. Already, Hp is a curse for China afflicting nearly 600 million people, statistic shows that around 200000 people die of stomach cancer each year.