« HarryTho 4/4 Natalee Holloway Commentary | Main | Cox2 inhibitors play a role in fighting some cancers? »

April 5, 2006

Ginger and pepper - anticancer therapy of the future?

Topics: Medicine

Ovarian cancer and cancer of the pancreas are among the most deadly forms of cancer that we can contract. The deaths from these forms of cancers are extremely high, and these types of cancers seem to be resistant to chemotherapy. However, new and ongoing research has brought a tiny ray of hope of possible new therapies that could be given in conjunction with the chemotherapy.

Two researchers have announced the result of their study into the effects of the spice ginger on growing ovarian cancer cells. This study is still in its earliest stage but the results are encouraging.

The study on ginger was done using cells in a lab dish, which is a long way from finding that it works in actual cancer patients, but it is the first step to testing the idea.

Dr. Rebecca Liu, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and colleagues tested ginger powder dissolved in solution by putting it on ovarian cancer cell cultures.

It killed the ovarian cancer cells in two different ways -- through a self-destruction process called apoptosis and through autophagy in which cells digest themselves, the researchers told a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

"Most ovarian cancer patients develop recurrent disease that eventually becomes resistant to standard chemotherapy, which is associated with resistance to apoptosis," Liu said in a statement.

"If ginger can cause autophagic cell death in addition to apoptosis, it may circumvent resistance to conventional chemotherapy."

Posted by at April 5, 2006 2:29 AM

Articles Related to Medicine:

• Monitor Your Moles For Signs Of Dangerous Skin Cancer - Apr 28, 2008
• Compound Found In Soybeans May Halt Spread Of Prostate Cancer - Apr 01, 2008
• Fewer Doses Of Radiation Still Effective In Beating Breast Cancer - Mar 19, 2008
• Severe Psychological Stress May Be Linked To Breast Cancer - Mar 10, 2008
• Scientists Say Anti-Cancer Smart Bomb Ready For Human Use - Mar 05, 2008
• New Research Confirms The Power Of Images In The Brain To Heal The Body - Jan 07, 2008
• Genentech's Avastin Shows Promise In Brain Cancer - Nov 18, 2007
• Synthetic Molecule Makes Cancer Cells Commit Suicide - Nov 14, 2007
• New Targeted Approach To Light-Activated Cancer Drugs With Tumor-Seeking Antibodies Shows Promise - Nov 10, 2007
• Study Suggests New Pill Is Better Than Traditional Chemotherapy - Oct 09, 2007