Antioxidants May Fight Rare Form of Cancer

New research from the Thomas Jefferson Hospital's Kimmel Cancer Center in Philadelphia shows that antioxidants may be effective at fighting mesothelioma cancer.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which cancerous cells are found in the mesolitheum, a protective sac that covers most of the body’s internal organs.

The study was published in the February 2011 issue of the journal Cancer Biology & Therapy.

The researchers conducted lab studies and found that the loss of a tumor-suppressing protein known as Caveolin-1 leads to tumor growth. It is also an important predictor of cancer outcomes.

When this protein is diminished it leads to oxidative stress which then feeds tumor growth. Since antioxidants fight oxidative stress, antioxidant medications could stop the tumor growth of patients suffering from malignant mesothelioma.

Although further human trials are necessary to determine the overall efficacy of antioxidant medications for preventing and treating mesothelioma cancer, the researchers believe this study shows that antioxidants should be considered for use as anti-cancer agents.

Although certain medications can boost your antioxidant intake, there are also many foods that are loaded with antioxidants including berries, broccoli, tomatoes, soy, grapes and tea.