KDR and hepatocellular carcinoma: EGCG has been shown to inhibit the growth of human HCC cells in in vitro studies using hepatic cancer cell lines by blocking the phosphorylation of the tyrosine-kinase receptor insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), initiating cell death by activating Caspase-9 and -3, suppressing Bcl-2, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and lipogenic enzymes, regulating the levels of VEGF and its receptor (VEGFR-2), NF-κB and ERK1/2, actuate AMPK (adenosine monophosphate-activated protein) and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated membrane permeability [111].