Esophageal cancer is the 6th leading cause of cancer death in Taiwanese males. Our previous studies have reported, besides cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking, areca nut chewing was one of the major risk factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in Taiwan. Meanwhile, we also found significant inverse relationship between the frequency of tea consumption and esophageal cancer. We used an animal model of N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA)- induced papilloma to clarify the role of arecoline and green tea/ EGCG in esophageal cancer. It was found that 1 (14%) and 6 (86%) out of 7 rats in the NMBA and NMBA+Arecoline groups, respectively, developed esophageal papilloma, whereas no esophageal tumor was found in the control group. Additionally, 2 (29%) and 1 (14%) out of 7 rats in the DMSO+NMBA+Arecoline+Green tea group and DMSO+NMBA+Arecoline+EGCG group, respectively, developed esophageal papilloma. Therefore, it is concluded that green tea and EGCG may inhibit the arecoline-promoted tumorigenesis in animal model of NMBA-induced papilloma
