Preventative Agents and Cancer

By Richard Shank Cancer

Researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center examined the impact that black raspberries have on genes altered by a chemical carcinogen related to esophageal cancer. The research suggests that preventative agents are most successful when they target multiple genetic factors in ways similar to those found in black raspberries.

In order to conduct this study, the researchers fed an experimental group of rats a diet containing 5% black raspberry powder. The control group ate a normal diet. During the third week of the study, half the animals in each group were injected three times with a chemical carcinogen, while continuing to consume the same diet. At the conclusion, the researchers examined the esophageal tissue of the rats.

In one week, the carcinogen affected the activity of about 2,200 genes in the test animals’ esophagus. Of that number, 460 of these genes were restored to normal activity in the animals that consumed freeze-dried black raspberry powder.

Black raspberries have vitamins, minerals, phenols, and phytoserols. These compounds are known to be effective for preventing various types of cancer. Freeze drying the berries multiplies these elements by nearly 10 times their normal concentration and enhances their chemoprevention potential dramatically.

The results of the study suggest that dietary prevention strategies need to focus on more than one dietary compound. The results with the berries are encouraging, but they themselves cannot prevent cancer in every case. More diverse chemoprevention food choices need to be explored in future research.

Source: Gary D. Stoner, Alan A. Dombkowski, Rashmeet K. Reen, et al. 2008. Carcinogen-altered genes in rat esophagus positively modulated to normal levels of expression by both black raspberries and phenylethyl isothiocyanate. Cancer Research 68: 6460-6467.

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