Green Tea or Polyphenon E in Preventing Lung Cancer in Former Smokers With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Evaluate the effects of high-level oral consumption of defined green tea (four 12-oz servings/day) or polyphenon E capsules (4 capsules/day) on markers of cellular oxidative damage, as measured by 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and 8-F\_2-isoprostanes (8-epi-PGF2) in former smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Secondary * Evaluate the effects of high-level oral consumption of defined green tea or polyphenon E capsules on body antioxidant status (carotenoids, vitamins A and E, ascorbic acid \[vitamin C\] and antioxidant enzymes \[catalase and glutathione peroxidase\]) in blood in these patients. * Evaluate the effects of high-level oral consumption of defined green tea or polyphenon E capsules on gene expression of markers of proliferation and apoptosis in induced sputum in these patients. Tertiary * Evaluate the effects of high-level oral consumption of defined green tea or polyphenon E capsules on lung function in these patients. * Evaluate the relative adherence to use of green tea beverage vs polyphenon E capsules in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients are stratified according to gender and inhaled steroid usage (yes vs no). All patients receive placebo tea beverage and placebo capsules 4 times a day for 2 weeks. Patients are randomized to 1 of 3 treatment arms after successful completion of the 2-week period. * Arm I (green tea beverage): Patients receive oral green tea beverage and oral polyphenon E placebo daily for 6 months. * Arm II (green tea capsule \[polyphenon E\]): Patients receive oral green tea beverage placebo and oral polyphenon E daily for 6 months. * Arm III (placebo): Patients receive oral green tea beverage placebo and oral polyphenon E placebo daily for 6 months. Patients undergo blood, urine, exhaled breath condensate (EBC), induced sputum, and buccal cell collection at baseline and periodically during study for biomarker/laboratory analysis. Blood samples are analyzed for 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. Urine is examined for F\_2-isoprostanes, 8-OHdG, and tea polyphenols. Induced sputum broncho-epithelial cells are analyzed for gene expression of genes implicated in cellular growth and apoptotic pathway via reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. EBC samples are examined for F\_2-isoprostane levels. Buccal cells are stored for future analysis. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 195 patients will be accrued for this study.