How spicy foods can kill cancers
Capsaicin
in some peppers, attacks cancer cells'
mitochondria
Scientists
have discovered the key to the ability
of spicy foods to kill cancer cells.
They found capsaicin, an ingredient of
jalapeno peppers, triggers cancer cell
death by attacking mitochondria - the
cells' energy-generating boiler rooms.
The research raises the possibility that
other cancer drugs could be developed
to target mitochondria.
The Nottingham University study features
in Biochemical and Biophysical Research
Communications.
The study showed that the family of molecules
to which capsaicin belongs, the vanilloids,
bind to proteins in the cancer cell mitochondria
to trigger apoptosis, or cell death, without
harming surrounding healthy cells.
We believe that we have in effect
discovered a fundamental 'Achilles heel'
for all cancers
Dr Timothy Bates
Capsaicin was tested on cultures of human
lung cancer cells and on pancreatic cancers.
Lead researcher Dr Timothy Bates said:
"As these compounds attack the very
heart of the tumour cells, we believe
that we have in effect discovered a fundamental
'Achilles heel' for all cancers.
"The biochemistry of the mitochondria
in cancer cells is very different from
that in normal cells.
"This is an innate selective vulnerability
of cancer cells."
He said a dose of capsaicin that could
cause a cancer cell to enter apoptosis,
would not have the same effect on a normal
cell.
Cancer Research UK recommends
reducing your risk of cancer by eating
a healthy, balanced diet, with plenty
of vegetables and fruit
Josephine Querido
Potential Drugs
The fact that capsaicin and other vanilloids
are already commonly found in the diet
proves they are safe to eat.
This could make development of a drug
containing them a much quicker and cheaper
process.
Dr Bates said: "Capsaicin, for example,
is already found in treatments for muscle
strain and psoriasis - which raises the
question of whether an adapted topical
treatment could be used to treat certain
types of skin cancer.
"It's also possible that cancer patients
or those at risk of developing cancer
could be advised to eat a diet which is
richer in spicy foods to help treat or
prevent the disease."
However, Josephine Querido, cancer information
officer at Cancer Research UK, said:
"This research does not suggest that
eating vast quantities of chilli pepper
will help prevent or treat cancer.
"The experiments showed that pepper
extracts killed cancer cells grown in
the laboratory, but these have not yet
been tested to see if they are safe and
effective in humans."
Cancer Research UK recommends reducing
the risk of cancer by eating a healthy,
balanced diet, with plenty of vegetables
and fruit.
Dr Bates added that the mitochondria in
cancer cells could also be targeted by
other compounds.
He said the investigation and development
of anti-mitochondrial drugs for cancer
chemotherapy was likely to be "extremely
significant" in the fight against
cancer.