绿茶是亚洲及中东地区最流行的饮品之一，具有抗癌、抗炎、抗菌、抗氧化、治疗心脑血管疾病、改善肥胖和糖尿病等活性。表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯（Epigallo catechin-3-gallate，EGCG）是绿茶中含量最高的多酚类物质，具有抗肿瘤的功效。已知细胞凋亡是各种抗癌药物引发细胞死亡的主要方式，因此诱导癌细胞凋亡是治疗癌症的一个明确目标。大量研究报道了EGCG的抗肿瘤活性，并揭示了EGCG诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡的作用及机制，因此本文综述了近几年EGCG诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡的作用及机制，包括p53、STAT3、Akt、p38 MAPK、Wnt/β-catenin和TRAIL等与凋亡相关的途径，还综述了EGCG与天然产物、抗肿瘤药物及其它化合物协同诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡的作用机制，并对EGCG的生物利用率、体内实验及临床实验的开展进行了展望，为EGCG的临床应用提供理论依据。

Green tea is one of the most popular drinks in Asia and the Middle East. It is a cancer-fighting, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant drink, and it can help treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Moreover, it improves obesity and diabetes. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is found in the highest amount in green tea compared to other polyphenols and demonstrates noticeable antitumor activity. It is well known that apoptosis is the main way for various anticancer drugs to induce cell death. Therefore, inducing apoptosis of cancer cells is a clear goal in cancer treatment. At present, a large number of studies have reported the antitumor activity of EGCG and revealed the effectiveness and mechanism of EGCG-induced tumor cell apoptosis. This study summarizes recently reported studies on the effects and mechanisms of EGCG in inducing tumor cell apoptosis. The pathways discussed include p53, STAT3, Akt, p38 MAPK, Wnt/β-catenin, and TRAIL. This study also discusses the mechanisms by which EGCG and natural products, antitumor drugs, and other compounds act synergistically to induce tumor cell apoptosis. Future research on the bioavailability, in vivo experiments, and clinical trials of EGCG is considered, offering a theoretical basis for clinical applications of EGCG.

云南省科技厅重大专项（202002AA100005）；云南省重大科技专项(2019ZG009)；云南省中青年学术和技术带头人后备人才（2018HB040）；云南省科技厅科技计划项目（2018FG001-088）