Effect of white tea in experimental breast cancer model

Breast cancer is a common cancer in women worldwide and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for an average of 666,000 women in 2022. This study was designed based on the idea that white tea, one of the world's most popular beverages, may be effective in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer by reducing oxidative and inflammatory processes of cells and preventing DNA damage, cell proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, inflammation and metastasis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the chemopreventive effects of white tea on breast cancer, an important health problem. This is the first study to investigate the potential effect of white tea on N-methyl-N-nitrozourea (MNU)-induced breast cancer. 50 Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups as Control, MNU, Taxol (TAX), low dose white tea (BÇ-50) and high dose white tea (BÇ-200). For 4 weeks, drinking water or white tea was given by gavage. At the end of the 4th week, mammary carcinoma was induced in all groups except the control group. Subsequently, drinking water or BÇ administration was continued for 14 weeks. Blood and breast tissues were collected for biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. VEGF, M-CSF, TNF-α, MMP-9, IL-6, CA 15-3, ER-α, PC, TIMP-1, MDA and GSH in serum samples, Ki67, 8-OHdG and Caspase-3 in breast tissues were analysed. Compared with the MNU group, M-CSF, TNF-α, IL-6, PC, TIMP-1 and MDA levels were significantly decreased, while GSH levels were significantly increased in the BÇ-50 group. In the BÇ-200 group, only M-CSF and MDA levels were significantly decreased. Especially in the BÇ-50 group, it was determined that it had an ameliorating effect on lipid peroxidation, prevented DNA and protein damage, decreased inflammatory cytokine levels, prevented the proliferation of cancer cells by inducing apoptosis, and inhibited tumour growth by blocking M-CSF release. It was shown that hyperplasic areas and histopathological changes increased by MNU exposure were successfully repaired by white tea. The number of hyperplasic epithelial cells showing Ki-67 positivity increased in the MNU group and decreased after treatment. White tea increased caspase-3 activity and induced apoptosis of cancer cells, whereas the number of apoptotic cells was very low in the MNU group. The results of our study show that white tea has positive effects in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and also significantly reduces cancer-related complications such as cachexia. Our findings provide important data for further investigation of the anti-carcinogenic effect of white tea and its chemopreventive potential in breast cancer. White tea has been shown to contribute to the prevention of tissue damage that occurs in tumour events. White tea cannot replace chemotherapy, but it can be used as a supplement that can support the prevention of breast cancer thanks to its beneficial properties.