Plant Based Compounds May Be Key To Future Anti-Cancer Therapies

2015-11-19 10:04:55

Credit: silvieandmaryl.com

Credit: silvieandmaryl.com

Advancements in precision medicine have led to many new targeted cancer therapies for cancer patients. These treatments focus on using agents that target one or two genes that contribute to tumor development. The approach tends to be more effective against cancer cells and less toxic toward normal cells than standard chemotherapeutic regimens. However, while new precision medicine treatments have increased the lifespan of many patients with cancer, the majority of patients eventually relapse, with some patients only achieving remission for a few months. Additionally, these novel targeted agents are also associated with significant toxicity and exorbitant costs. These limitations are particularly troubling for less-developed countries.These plant based agents tend to be less toxic than medicine that are currently being used in the clinic or in development. The scientists prioritized agents that had the greatest potential activity against tumors, those that were less expensive, and those that were free from intellectual property constraints. The research teams proposed the inclusion of 74 different cellular targets involved in the development of cancer, and compiled a list of agents from plant and food-based chemicals and approaches that may be most effective when used in combination against those targets. Some of the agents included green tea catechins, isoflavones, lycopene, luteolin, anthocyanins and curcumin- which are currently being tested in clinical trials.

 

Source: Moffitt Cancer Center, newswise.com