Cancer Promise

Grape Polyphenol Extracts Shows Cancer Promise

New research suggests that grape polyphenol extracts (anti-oxidants) may help fight cancers of the head and neck whilst maintaining the integrity of the surrounding healthy cells.

The study, conducted at the University of Colorado Cancer Centre, showed that in both cell cultures and in mouse models addition of grape polyphenol extracts hindered the growth of cancer cells. The researchers reported that grape extract reduced growth of cancer cells by up to 67% and initiated DNA damage and programmed cell death of cancer cell lines.

According to the researchers, the beneficial results of grape polyphenols seem to be two-pronged. The extract creates conditions which are unfavourable to cell growth and thus cause damage to the DNA of cancer cells and also block the mechanisms of DNA repair. The surrounding healthy cells are able to withstand the stresses exerted by the polyphenol extracts to a greater extent than cancer cells. In the mouse model, the research team observed that cancer cells were killed with “absolutely no toxicity to the mice themselves”.

Previous studies conducted on cancer cell lines have been consistent with hindering the growth of cancer cells, however, the mechanism was unknown. Due to the difficulty in treating head and neck cancers, the researchers suggest that further investigation is required to determine the potential of grape extract supplementation as a therapeutic intervention