Peachy novel treatment to prevent breast cancer metastasis

I just read a really neat study from researchers at Texas A&M University. While admittedly this is not comparative physiology, it was just too interesting not to share.

In a study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, Dr. Luis Cisneros-Zevallos and colleagues found that administering peach extract to mice inhibited the metastasis (i.e. spread) of breast cancer to other organs, namely the lungs. They attribute this effect to the mix of phenolic compounds in the extract. The dose administered to the mice is equivalent to consuming 2-3 peaches for a human.

In prior work, Dr. Cisneros-Zavallos and his research team found that polyphenols from peaches and plums were able to selectively kill aggressive breast cancer cells without harming normal healthy cells.

These findings are a big deal because, according to Dr. Cisneros-Zavallos, the high mortality associated with breast cancer as well as many of its complications are related to metastasis. In a quote from a press release, Dr. Cisneros-Zavallos stated, “We are enthusiastic about the idea that perhaps by consuming only two to three peaches a day we can obtain similar effects in humans. However, this will have to be the next step in the study for its confirmation.”

Source:
Texas A&M Press Release

Norattoa G, Porterb W, Byrnea D, Cisneros-Zevallosa L. Polyphenolics from peach (Prunus persica var. Rich Lady) inhibit tumor growth and metastasis of MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cells in vivo. J Nutr Biochem., In Press.