Revolutionary Paradigm Shift in Treating Cancer
You may never have heard of Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) before, but you will. They represent a paradigm shift in the treatment of cancer. Current cancer treatments target the proliferating cells in the growing tumour but leave the CSCs alone. And that may be part of the reason that they have fallen so far short of hopes. . . .
Cancer Stem Cells are cells within tumours that have the incredible ability to “self-renew,” making them virtually immortal. Several carcinogenic processes are kicked off and sustained by CSCs. For example, they originate the cells that make up tumours. They play a role in every single phase of cancer, form initiation to progression, invasion and metastasis. But they are resistant to conventional cancer treatment. Chemotherapy and radiation are incapable of targeting CSCs. So finding a cancer treatment that can also target CSCs could revolutionize the treatment of cancer. And, it turns out, several natural compounds can do just that.
A recent review of the literature listed the most promising natural compounds for killing both cancer cells and, specifically, CSCs.
According to the reviewers, the ten most effective natural compounds found in foods for killing cancer cells are:
1. Epigallocatechin (EGCG) from green tea
2. Curcumin from turmeric
3. Resveratrol form the skin of grapes and also found in peanuts
4. Lycopene from tomatoes, pink grapefruits and watermelon
5. Pomegranate
6. Luteolin, a less discussed flavonoid found in peppers and various green vegetables like cabbage and spinach
7. Genestein from soy
8. Piperine from black pepper
9. Betacarotene, found in many fruits and vegetables
10. Sulforaphane from cruciferous vegetables.
Excitingly, the paper went on to identify the compounds found in foods that, according to a review of recently acquired scientific knowledge, selectively kill CSCs. The list includes:
1. Epigallocatechin (EGCG)
2. Piperine
3. Sulforaphane
4. Betacarotene
5. Quercetin
6. Resveratrol
7. Genestein
8. Curcumin
Interestingly, this list includes some of the natural compounds that have proven most effective at fighting cancer. Perhaps this explains part of the reason why.
Int J Mol Sci 2015;16:15727-42