Advanced Search
Current and Breaking News for Professionals, Consumers and Media




Cancer Issues Author: Staff Editor Last Updated: Nov 6, 2017 - 10:28:18 AM



The Power of Pomegranate in Slowing Breast Cancer

By Staff Editor
Nov 6, 2017 - 10:22:52 AM



Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Sign up for our Ezine
For Email Marketing you can trust


Email this article
 Printer friendly page
(HealthNewsDigest.com) - A University at Albany research team has found evidence suggesting that the same antioxidant that gives pomegranate fruit its vibrant red color can alter the characteristics of breast cancer stem cells, showing the superfood's potential for aiding in much more than just diabetes or heart disease as previously thought.

Professor Ramune Reliene (right) and graduate assistant Sameera Nallanthighal with a pomegranate.

Pomegranate extract, derived mainly from the skin of the fruit, is known for having high levels of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. Ramune Reliene, associate professor of Environmental Health Sciences in UAlbany's School of Public Health, and graduate assistant Sameera Nallanthighal, both working with UAlbany's Cancer Research Center, wondered if these antioxidants could demonstrate cancer-fighting effects. Because not all cancer cells are the same and tumors are comprised of many cell types, they decided to target the one long-thought to be the most dangerous in any given tumor: cancer stem cells.
The Cells
Stem cells are unlike other types of cells in that they have a remarkable ability to self-divide and reproduce themselves, even giving rise to other types of cells. This self-dividing nature alone is not dangerous; in fact, normal tissue stem cells can replace dying cells and even repair damaged tissue. The danger arises if stem cells become cancer stem cells, because their division and renewing ability carries over to cancer progression by aiding in tumor initiation, growth, and even re-initiating cancerous tumors long after a person has been declared cancer-free. Compounding these issues are the fact that cancer stem cells are thought to be more resistant to therapy than other types of cancer cells.
As such, cancer stem cells have become an important target in cancer therapy and prevention more so than other cancer cells, because of the idea that if the stem cells can be slowed or made "less stem-like," the cancer itself could be slowed too.
The Study
Together with an undergraduate student researcher Kristine Elmaliki, Reliene and Nallanthighal conducted experiments using cancer cells lines that are the prototypes of breast cancer stem cells. These cells, which display the exact properties of cancer stem cells, were treated with diluted pomegranate extract and incubated for periods ranging from one to six days. During this time, the team measured several markers of breast cancer stem cells in both the pomegranate extract treated cells and untreated cells. They then compared the results between the groups and observed significant differences between the cancer stem cell prototypes that were treated with pomegranate extract. Additionally, the cells that were treated with pomegranate extract were treated with relatively small amounts -- thought to be manageable for a person to consume by simply purchasing the product at a grocery store and incorporating it into their diet.
"One thing we found surprising is that relatively low concentrations of the extract are able to modify the ability of cancer stem cells to reproduce themselves," said Reliene.
The Findings
Reliene, Nallanthighal and Elmaliki made several notable findings, including:
  • Pomegranate extract inhibits breast cancer cells ability to self-renew.
  • The inhibitory effect is maintained for several cell generations of newly formed cells (the equivalent to children and grandchildren of pomegranate extract-exposed parent cells) that have never been exposed to pomegranate extract but still have difficulties in self-renewing.
  • Pomegranate extract converts cancer stem cells to cells that look like more traditional cancer cells and which may successfully be eliminated by cancer drugs.
  • "Our evidence alone does not suggest that pomegranate is the end-all-be-all-cure of breast cancer, but pomegranate extract shows promising potential for having a positive effect in both the primary cancer prevention and inhibition of the disease progression," said Reliene. "It warrants further investigation of its overall possibilities," she continued.
The full paper and research can be viewed here.
About the University at Albany
Educationally and culturally, the University at Albany-SUNY puts the world within reach for its more than 17,300 students. A comprehensive public research university, UAlbany offers more than 120 undergraduate majors and minors and 125 master's, doctoral, and graduate certificate programs. UAlbany is a leader among all New York State colleges and universities in such diverse fields as atmospheric and environmental sciences, business, criminal justice, emergency preparedness, engineering and applied sciences, informatics, publicadministration, social welfare, and sociologytaught by an extensive roster of faculty experts. It also offers expanded academic and research opportunities for students through an affiliation with Albany Law School. With a curriculum enhanced by 600 study-abroad opportunities, UAlbany launches great careers.
# # #


Top of Page

HealthNewsDigest.com

Cancer Issues
Latest Headlines


+ Cancer and Mental Health
+ Immunotherapy Drug Shows Continued Promise in Several Advanced-Stage Cancers
+ Find New Mechanism to Turn on Cancer-Killing T Cells
+ Back to the Trails After Cancer Rehabilitation
+ Breakthrough COVID Infections More Likely in Cancer and Alzheimer’s Patients
+ Consider all Treatment Options for Ovarian Cancer
+ Men Need to Take Melanoma Seriously
+ Melanoma a Higher Risk for Older Veterans
+ Precision Medicine Approach to Metabolic Therapy for Breast Cancer
+ Test for Multiple Myeloma Provides Clues of a Rare, More Deadly Type



Contact Us | Job Listings | Help | Site Map | About Us
Advertising Information | HND Press Release | Submit Information | Disclaimer

Site hosted by Sanchez Productions