Fotolia_5535303_XS (2)A preliminary study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (August 10, 2009 vol. 27 no. 23 3808-3814) looked at the effect epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG, an extract from green tea) had on patients with early stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The 33 subjects were given doses of EGCG varying from 400 to 2,000 milligrams, twice daily for eight days. The lymphocyte count was reduced by at least 20% in one-third of the patients. Most of the patients with enlarged lymph nodes experienced a reduction in lymph node size of 50% or greater.