EGCG inhibits tumour vascularity and tumour cell proliferation. Nude mice were inoculated with HT29 cells into the subcutis and treated with EGCG or EC (negative control). Immunohistochemical staining of tumour sections for CD31 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was used to quantify tumour vessels and tumour cell proliferation. EGCG inhibited tumour vascularity by 30% and tumour cell proliferation by 27% (a). Immunofluorescent double staining of tumour sections for CD31 and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) were performed to quantify the percentages of tumour and endothelial cells undergoing apoptosis. EGCG treatment significantly increased apoptosis of both cell types over that of controls (b). HPF, high-power field. Bars indicate standard error of the mean. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.001 (10 mice per group). (Reproduced with permission from Jung YD, Kim MS, Shin BA, Chay KO, Ahn BW, Liu W, Bucana CD, Gallick GE & Ellis LM. (2001) EGCG, a major component of green tea, inhibits tumour growth by inhibiting VEGF induction in human colon carcinoma cells. British Journal of Cancer, 84, 844–850).