EGCG for Radiation-Induced Esophagitis in Lung Cancer

EGCG for Radiation-Induced Esophagitis in Lung Cancer

Radiation-induced esophagitis is a common and often debilitating side effect of thoracic radiotherapy for lung cancer, frequently limiting treatment tolerance and quality of life. Zhao and colleagues evaluated whether epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a bioactive polyphenol derived from green tea with known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, could reduce the severity of this complication in patients with stage III lung cancer.
In this prospective phase II trial, patients receiving definitive radiotherapy for stage III lung cancer were treated with EGCG during radiation. Outcomes were compared to expected historical rates of esophagitis severity, focusing on symptom onset, duration, and grade of radiation-induced esophagitis, as well as treatment tolerability and safety.
The study found that EGCG use was associated with a reduction in the severity and duration of acute radiation-induced esophagitis. Many patients experienced symptom improvement without interruption of radiotherapy, and EGCG was well tolerated with minimal adverse effects. These findings suggest that EGCG may help protect esophageal tissue from radiation-related inflammation and oxidative stress.
Although this was a single-arm phase II study and not a randomized controlled trial, it provides clinically relevant evidence that EGCG may be a supportive care option for managing radiation-induced esophagitis. Further randomized studies are needed to confirm efficacy and to determine optimal dosing and integration into standard lung cancer treatment protocols.

Reference:

Zhao H, Xie P, Li X, Zhu W, Sun X, Sun X, Chen X, Xing L, Yu J. A prospective phase II trial of EGCG in treatment of acute radiation-induced esophagitis for stage III lung cancer. Radiother Oncol. 2015;114(3):351–356. doi:10.1016/j.radonc.2015.02.014. PMID: 25769379.