Green Tea May Counter Effects of Takeda’s Cancer Drug Velcade

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<font face="Calibri" >Green tea may negate the effects of </font>
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<font face="Calibri" >Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.</font>

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<font face="Calibri" >’s cancer medicine Velcade, researchers found, contrasting with studies that show the anti-cancer properties of green-tea products. </font>
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<p><font face="Calibri" >An antioxidant compound in the tea blocked and inactivated the drug’s ability to fight tumor cells in mice given the treatment, according to a summary of a study published yesterday in </font><font face="Calibri" >, the journal of the American Society of Hematology. </font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" >Velcade, an intravenous drug also known by its chemical name bortezomib, is used to treat the blood-cancer multiple myeloma. Almost 20,000 new diagnoses of multiple myeloma were expected in the U.S. last year, and two-thirds of patients die within five years, according to the </font><font face="Calibri" >. The disease is incurable. </font></p>
<p><font face="Calibri" >“Our surprising results indicate that green tea polyphenols may have the potential to negate the therapeutic efficacy of bortezomib,” said the </font><font face="Calibri" >’s Axel Schoenthal, who led the research. The evidence is sufficient to urge patients using Velcade to refrain from green-tea products, the researcher wrote. <br /><br /><br />source:  <font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><i>Last Updated: February 3, 2009 21:15 EST</i> </font></font></font></p>
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