Antioxidants interfere with pancreatic cancer treatment, then

[HysteryDiagnosis]

again, it makes a difference whom you ask.


http://www.lef.org/whatshot/2010_09.htm

In tests using four cultured pancreatic cancer cell lines, gamma-tocotrienol suppressed the proliferation of all lines, with higher doses and longer exposures producing a greater benefit. Administration of a 50 micromole dose of gamma-tocotrienol resulted in almost complete suppression of tumor cell proliferation. The vitamin was found to inhibit NF-kB activation and proteins involved with inflammation, in addition to sensitizing the cells to gemcitabine.

The researchers then tested the effects of gamma-tocotrienol and gemcitabine alone and in combination in a mouse model of human pancreatic cancer. Oral gamma-tocotrienol administered alone was shown to inhibit tumor growth, a finding that is a first, according to the authors. As was demonstrated in the cultured cell experiments, gamma-tocotrienol enhanced the tumor-fighting ability of gemcitabine. Gamma-tocotrienol alone was found to suppress NF-kB activation, and further suppressed NF-kB in gemcitabine-treated tissues.

“Our study is the first report to suggest that gamma-tocotrienol can enhance the apoptotic effect of gemcitabine in various pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro,” the authors announce. “Our findings suggest that gamma-tocotrienol can inhibit the growth of human pancreatic tumors and sensitize them to gemcitabine by suppressing of NF-κB-mediated inflammatory pathways linked to tumorigenesis.”

September 24, 2010