The potential effects of green tea (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate on overcoming imatinib-resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia bearing BCR-ABL

We investigated the effect of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in overcoming imatinib mesylate -resistance in chronic myeloid leukaemia cells. Cell proliferation was determined by trypan blue dye exclusion test. Western blot analysis was performed to test the expression of key proteins. EGCG showed anti-proliferative effects in TCCY cells (IC50 = 23 μM), TCCY/T315I cells (IC50 = 19 μM) and wild type and mutant BCR-ABL-transfected Ba/F3 cells (IC50 from 30 to 33 μM). Moreover, treatment with EGCG (4 hours) resulted in decrease of BCR-ABL expression. Finally, EGCG treatment inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT and MAPK and induced apoptosis in these cells.