Adding DIM to paclitaxel improves the ability to kill dangerous invasive breast cancer in this laboratory study
May
15,
2007
Her2/neu is a gene that regulates the growth of various cells. When there is a high level of activity by this gene in cancerous breast tumors they are aggressive and hard to treat and become
resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs. Her2/neu overexpression is found in 25 to 30% of invasive breast tumors according to these scientists from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
The drug paclitaxel is often used in this form of invasive breast cancer and the cancer can become resistant to the drugs cancer fighting effects.
DIM (diindolylmethane) has cancer fighting properties in both humans and animals; DIM is the major metabolite formed from Indole-3-Carbinol. Indole-3- Carbinol comes from cabbage and related vegetables.
In this study both DIM and paclitaxel were added to Her2/neu breast cancer cells alone or together and at varying potencies. Both DIM and paclitaxel inhibited the growth of this very dangerous breast cancer.
But together the agents killed more breast cancer cells than either agent could do alone and they had additional mechanisms of action against cancer than they had alone and the effects are synergistic.
It appears that DIM, a nontoxic and natural compound, may be a beneficial addition to a traditional taxane-drug based chemotherapy regimen. The study is published in the May 15th, 2006 issue of the Journal of Surgical Research.
Human papilloma virus (wart virus) causes oral cancer
Particular strains of human papilloma virus (HPV) are a known cause of cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer. This virus can be transferred sexually.
People who develop an infection with the HPV in their mouths are 32 times more likely to develop cancer of the throat, mouth and tongue.
The report appears in the May 10th, 2007 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
A deficiency of Vitamin E or Selenium increases the risk of viral infection and viral mutation
A deficiency of either Vitamin E or the trace mineral selenium increases the ability of viruses to cause infection and also reduces the capability of our immune system to fight off an infection.
Furthermore, lacking either Vitamin E or selenium allows mild viruses to mutate in our system into infectious viruses that cause disease.
The research review was performed at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and is published in the May 2007 issue of The Journal of Nutrition.