Could a cup of green tea keep colon cancer away?
NCT ID NCT02891538
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jul 01, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This pilot study tests whether a purified green tea extract called EGCG can help prevent colon cancer from coming back after surgery. 51 patients who had their colon cancer removed took either the extract or a placebo. Researchers are checking for changes in DNA methylation, a marker linked to cancer risk.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a purified green tea extract
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple, natural supplement to help prevent colon cancer from coming back after surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small pilot study. It only looks at biological markers, not whether cancer actually returns. The extract may have no effect or cause side effects.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Early phase 1
The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.
- Participants
-
51 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jan 2017
- Finished
-
Sep 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Cytologically or histologically confirmed of primary colon or rectal adenocarcinoma with resectable cancer, who have not received any treatments for cancer. * Age 18 years and above * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2 * The patient is a candidate for surgical resection, with no planned neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and there is a planned surgery for the primary colorectal cancer cancer or the patient had recent resection of the primary colorectal cancer. . * For women who are not postmenopausal (12 months of amenorrhea) or surgically sterile (absence of ovaries and/or uterus): agreement to use two adequate methods of contraception. For men: agreement to use a barrier method of contraception during the treatment period * Hematologic, Biochemical, and Organ Function within 7 days prior to Cycle 1 Day 1: Granulocyte count \> 1000/mm3, Platelet count \> 50,000/ mm3, Hemoglobin \> 7 g/dL; Total bilirubin \< 1.5xULN; Albumin \> 2.8g/dl; aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (SGOT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (SGPT) \</=2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN); Serum creatinine\< 2 x ULN Exclusion Criteria: * Patients receiving prior chemotherapy or chemoradiation for colorectal cancer (ie, neoadjuvant chemoradiation for stage II or III rectal cancer). * Known diagnosis of stage III colon or rectal cancer will be excluded from the study. * Patients with metastatic disease. * Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents. * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to green tea or EGCG. * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * Gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication or a requirement for IV alimentation, prior surgical procedures affecting absorption, or active peptic ulcer disease. Patients with nasogastric tube (NG-tube), J-tube, or G-tube will not be allowed to participate. * Pregnant women are excluded from this study because of unknown effects of EGCG on teratogenic or abortifacient effects. For this reason, women of childbearing potential and men must also agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. * Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with EGCG, breastfeeding should be discontinued. * Informed Consent - No study specific procedures will be performed without a written and signed informed consent document. Patients who do not demonstrate the ability to understand or the willingness to sign the written informed consent document will be excluded from study entry.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Colon adenocarcinoma are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
UT Health San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas, 78229, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a personalized menu keep cancer patients stronger through chemotherapy?
- Can surgeons spare nerves and still cure colon cancer?
- New injectable drug tested against Hard-to-Treat solid tumors
- Experimental drug put to the test against Hard-to-Treat GI cancers
- The gatekeepers of tumors: scientists probe how blood vessels let immune cells in
- Blood test could guide stronger chemo for colon cancer