Resveratol Cancer information
Resveratrol a natural polyphenolic antioxidant, is
found in many plants including grapes, nuts and berries. Resvertarol has
potential in the prevention or treatment in various types of cancers. But how do
we know what the appropriate resveratrol
dosage
would be for the treatment or prevention of different types of cancer?
How does resveratrol influence cancer prevention?
Resveratrol is great candidate for cancer chemoprevention due its ability to
block each step in the formation of cancer by inhibiting several molecular
targets such as kinases, cyclooxygenases, ribonucleotide reductase, and DNA
polymerases.
Resveratrol and breast cancer
As of November 2007, we are not aware of human research with resveratrol and
breast cancer.
Resveratrol modulates roscovitine-mediated cell cycle
arrest of human MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2007 Sep 11; Cell Cycle Regulation Group, Department of
Medicine I, Division: Institute of Cancer Research, Medical University of
Vienna, Borschkegasse 8 a, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Human MCF-7 breast cancer cells are relatively resistant to anti-cancer drugs.
Recently, a number of epidemiological and experimental studies indicated that
polyphenols (e.g. resveratrol, epicatechins etc.), abundant micronutrients in
food, are anti-oxidant agents and could have strong anti-mitotic as well as
pro-apoptotic activities. Considering the potential benefits of the dietary
components during the post-chemotherapy period, we focused our attention on the
effects of resveratrol administration after treatment with roscovitine. We
analyzed whether the combined treatment with resveratrol would exert any
additional effect on the cell cycle status of roscovitine -treated human cancer
cells. Resveratrol exhibited low direct cytotoxicity. The combined treatment
with roscovitine enhanced the roscovitine -mediated inhibition of cell
proliferation and cell cycle arrest. These results indicate that targeted
combination of anti-cancer drugs with distinct naturally occurring compounds
could increase the efficacy of the therapy and concomitantly reduce the
undesired side effects exerted by cytostatic drugs.
Resveratrol and prostate cancer
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Department of
Pharmacology and Toxicology, gave male mice, on a daily basis, the powerful
antioxidant resveratrol, the equivalent of that found in a bottle of red wine.
They discovered that the mice were significantly less likely to develop prostate
cancer. Mice which were fed resveratrol, but still got cancer, developed less
serious tumors. Last year this same team found that female mice given
resveratrol had a significantly reduced risk of developing breast cancer.
Comments: Red wine has about 2 to 3 milligrams of resveratrol per
liter (a liter is almost 34 ounces). Most resveratrol supplements on the market
have about 10 mg per capsule. For the time being, taking one or two resveratrol
supplements a week is fine if you are consuming many other antioxidants on a
daily basis. However, if you hardly take any antioxidant supplements, then you
can take the resveratrol more frequently.
Resveratrol, red wine, and cancer
Consumption of red wine is associated with a slight but statistically
significant reduction in the development of lung cancer, as reported in the
journal Thorax. Red wine contains tannins and resveratrol, substances which
could explain the drink’s anti-cancer properties. Tannins act as antioxidants,
which mop up free radicals — particles harmful to cells. Resveratrol is known to
fight cancer tumor growth.
Resveratrol mechanism of action
Resveratrol down regulates the inflammatory responses. That includes the
inhibition of synthesis and release of pro-inflammatory mediators, modifications
of eicosanoid synthesis, inhibition of some activated immune cells, or
inhibiting the enzymes, such as cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) or cyclooxygenase-2
(COX-2), which are responsible for the synthesis of pro-inflammatory mediators
through the inhibitory effect of resveratrol on transcription factors like
nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) or activator protein-1 (AP-1).
Role of resveratrol in prevention and therapy of cancer: preclinical and
clinical studies.
Anticancer Res. 2004 Sep-Oct;24(5A):2783-840. Aggarwal BB, Bhardwaj A,
Aggarwal RS, Seeram NP, Shishodia S, Takada Y. Cytokine Research Laboratory,
Department of Bioimmunotherapy, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson
Besides cardioprotective effects, resveratrol exhibits anticancer properties, as
suggested by its ability to suppress proliferation of a wide variety of tumor
cells, including lymphoid and myeloid cancers; multiple myeloma; cancers of the
breast, prostate, stomach, colon, pancreas, and thyroid; melanoma; head and neck
squamous cell carcinoma; ovarian carcinoma; and cervical carcinoma. The
growth-inhibitory effects of resveratrol are mediated through cell-cycle arrest;
upregulation of p21Cip1/WAF1, p53 and Bax; down-regulation of survivin, cyclin
D1, cyclin E, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and clAPs; and activation of caspases. Resveratrol
has been shown to suppress the activation of several transcription factors,
including NF-kappaB, AP-1 and Egr-1; to inhibit protein kinases including
IkappaBalpha kinase, JNK, MAPK, Akt, PKC, PKD and casein kinase II; and to
down-regulate products of genes such as COX-2, 5-LOX, VEGF, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, AR
and PSA. These activities account for the suppression of angiogenesis by this
stilbene. Resveratrol also has been shown to potentiate the apoptotic effects of
cytokines (e.g., TRAIL), chemotherapeutic agents and gamma-radiation.
Phamacokinetic studies revealed that the target organs of resveratrol are liver
and kidney, where it is concentrated after absorption and is mainly converted to
a sulfated form and a glucuronide conjugate. In vivo, resveratrol blocks the
multistep process of carcinogenesis at various stages: it blocks carcinogen
activation by inhibiting aryl hydrocarbon-induced CYP1A1 expression and
activity, and suppresses tumor initiation, promotion and progression. Besides
chemopreventive effects, resveratrol appears to exhibit therapeutic effects
against cancer. Limited data in humans have revealed that resveratrol is
pharmacologically quite safe. Currently, structural analogues of resveratrol
with improved bioavailability are being pursued as potential therapeutic agents
for cancer.
Resveratrol cancer questions
Q. I am a breast cancer survivor of 8 years. (DCIS non invasive--lumpectomy) I
read contradictory articles about whether I should take resveratrol for cancer.
I am taking resveratrol to see if it will help me lower my LDL or at least help
me improve my ratio of HDL and LDL. What is the real info on resveratrol and
breast cancer?
A. As of November 2007, we
are not aware of human research with resveratrol and breast cancer.