According to Swedish researchers, Resveratrol has potential use as chemotherapeutic agent for breast cancer

Resveratrol, the powerful polyphenol from both red wine and red grape skin, is considered a potential cancer preventive agent. In this study researchers exposed ER-alpha, ER-beta, and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancers growing in nude mice to Resveratrol. Nude mice are commonly used in cancer research because they lack a thymus gland, T-cells, and therefore immune function and it is easy to insert a human cancer in them and the cancer flourishes in them. ER-alpha and ER-beta are two estrogen receptor sites and it is thought by some experts that women with cancer that is ER-alpha positive have a lower risk of relapse and better overall survival. MDA-MB-123 adenocarcinoma is a highly invasive and aggressive breast cancer cell-line. The Resveratrol causes significantly lower tumor growth, decreased the ability of the cancers to create their own blood supply (angiogenesis), and increased the rate of death of all 3 types of breast cancers. There was also significantly reduced levels of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) a factor needed for the growth and metastasis of breast cancer. This study supports the potential use of Resveratrol as a chemotherapeutic agent in breast cancer. The research was performed at the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Hospital, Linkoping, Sweden and is published in the January 2006 issue of Cancer Letters.

Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.

At the start of this study the impact of the supplements Green Tea Extract and CLA were not even thought of yet - studies show these both impact weight.

EGCG is the most important polyphenol in Green Tea

Increasing evidence points to EGCG having an ability to protect nerves, the nervous system and it may especially protect motor neurons. Motor neurons are nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord that control muscle and enable movement. In ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [sometimes called Lou Gehrig's disease]) there is damage to motor neurons that rapidly worsens weakening muscles eventually leading to death. The neuroprotective effects of EGCG have been demonstrated in Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and models of ischemic stroke, there has been no report on the effects of a living model of ALS. In this study mice with damage to their SOD1 genes had a form of ALS that occurs because SOD is not functioning to protect their brain. 3 groups of 11 mice were treated with different concentrations of EGCG dissolved in their drink, or nothing added starting before they displayed symptoms of ALS. The EGCG in concentrations over 2.9 mcg/g of body weight significantly prolonged the time before symptoms occurred and significantly prolonged lifespan. This data suggests that EGCG could be a potential therapeutic candidate for ALS as a disease-modifying agent. The study was performed at the Department of Neurology, Institute of Biomedical Science, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea and is published early on line ahead of print in the December 12th, 2005 issue of Neuroscience Letters.