Adding green tea and quercetin to chemotherapy for advanced prostate cancer
Official title: Phase I/II trial of green tea and quercetin in docetaxel chemotherapy
Funded at Charles R. Drew University of Med & Sci · NIH-11375956 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial adds green tea extract and quercetin to docetaxel chemotherapy for men with advanced, treatment-resistant prostate cancer, with attention to African-American patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Charles R. Drew University of Med & Sci NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 28, 2009 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $289,209 |
| NIH project number | 5U54MD007598-18 |
| Project ID | NIH-11375956 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who are receiving or eligible for docetaxel chemotherapy, especially African-American patients, are the intended participants.
✕Less likely to help
People without advanced prostate cancer, those not treated with docetaxel, or individuals with allergies or contraindications to green tea or quercetin are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
What this research studies
If I join, I would receive standard docetaxel chemotherapy along with doses of green tea extract and the supplement quercetin. The team combines these natural compounds with chemo because lab work suggests they can make cancer cells more sensitive to docetaxel and lower drug-resistance proteins. Doctors will monitor side effects, bloodwork, and tumor response over time to check safety and early signs of benefit. The study focuses on men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and aims to enroll African-American patients to help address outcome disparities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combination could make docetaxel more effective and potentially improve outcomes or reduce harmful side effects for men with advanced prostate cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory studies showed the green tea and quercetin combination boosted docetaxel activity in prostate cancer cell lines, but human clinical evidence is limited and this clinical trial approach is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
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Charles R. Drew University of Med & Sci
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Piwen — Charles R. Drew University of Med & Sci
- Study coordinator: Wang, Piwen
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.