Pomegranate Enhances Tamoxifen's Effectiveness In ER+ Breast Cancer Cells

Note to self: Drink pomegranate juice more often than I do. Drink it regularly. At one time I was but I kind of slacked off but this indicates that I need to be diligent.

Pomegranate Enhances Tamoxifen's Effectiveness In ER Positive Breast Cancer Cells - Food for Breast Cancer

News type:

Breast cancer study

Publication:

Journal of Cell Communication and Signalling, June 2011

Study name:

Pomegranate sensitizes Tamoxifen action in ER-á positive breast cancer cells

A new study has reported that pomegranate fruit extract enhances the effectiveness of tamoxifenin hormone receptor positive breast cancer cells and may prevent or reduce resistance to tamoxifen. Approximately one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes and about 70% will have estrogen receptor positive (ER+) disease. The presence of ER indicates that the tumor may respond to tamoxifen. However, a significant fraction of ER+ tumors have minimal or no initial response to tamoxifen or eventually develop resistance to it. Why some breast cancer cells resist tamoxifen and how to make these cells respond has not been established. Previous reports suggest that pomegranate fruit extracts have anticancer activities against some cancers.

In the current study, the authors assessed the effect of pomegranate fruit extract on both tamoxifen-sensitive and tamoxifen-resistant ER+ breast cancer cells. Cell viability and cell death were measured in the presence or absence of tamoxifen in both estrogenic and non-estrogenic culture environments. Pomegranate fruit extract was found to enhance the treatment effects of tamoxifen in both sensitive and resistant ER+ breast cancer cells. Cell viability was reduced by the addition of pomegranate fruit extract in both estrogenic and non-estrogenic environments through the induction of apoptosis (programmed cell death). The authors conclude that the study results show for the first time that pomegranate combined with tamoxifen may represent an effective approach for enhancing and sensitizing tamoxifen action.

Please see our article on what to eat during tamoxifen treatment for more information on how to optimize treatment with tamoxifen and reduce side effects.

Pomegranate Enhances Tamoxifen's Effectiveness In ER+ Breast Cancer Cells