A
diet rich in beans, nuts and cereals could be a way to prevent
cancer, believe UK researchers.
Scientists
at University College London have discovered that these everyday
foods contain a potent anti-cancer compound.
This blocks a key enzyme involved in tumour growth, they told
Cancer Research journal.
The researchers say, in the future, it might be possible to
mimic this compound in an anti-cancer drug.
"Our
study suggests the importance of a diet enriched in foods
such as beans, nuts and cereals which could help prevent cancer"
- Researcher Dr Marco Falasca
Scientists have been exploring the enzyme phosphoinositide 3-kinase
as a target for cancer treatment for some time but inhibitors
have been difficult to develop because of problems with chemical
stability and toxicity.
Dr Marco Falasca and colleagues have discovered that a natural
compound, called inositol pentakisphosphate, which is found
in most legumes as well as in wheat bran and nuts, blocks the
activity of the enzyme.
When they tested its action in mice with ovarian and lung cancer
they found it not only blocked tumour growth but also enhanced
the effect of other cancer-killing drugs.
In addition, it appeared to be non-toxic, unlike conventional
chemotherapy agents.
Dr Falasca said: "Our study suggests the importance of a diet
enriched in foods such as beans, nuts and cereals which could
help prevent cancer.
"Our work will now focus on establishing whether the phosphate
inhibitor can be developed into an anti-cancer agent for human
therapy.
"The
next step is to look at whether inositol pentakisphosphate
is able to inhibit tumour growth in cancer patients"
- Henry Scowcroft of Cancer Research UK
"We believe that inositol pentakisphosphate is a promising anti-cancer
tool and we hope to bring it to clinical testing soon."
Henry Scowcroft of Cancer Research UK said: "It is always encouraging
when a newly discovered chemical is shown to have anti-cancer
activity in the laboratory, especially when it occurs naturally
in foods like beans and peas.
"Obviously, the next step is to look at whether inositol pentakisphosphate
is able to inhibit tumour growth in cancer patients, in properly
controlled clinical trials."
He said researchers were also looking at whether people who
eat more lentils, peas and beans are actually at lower risk
of developing cancers
"What we do know already is that a diet that includes at least
five portions of fruit and vegetables a day can help to reduce
the risk of cancer."
A
diet rich in beans, nuts and cereals could be a way to prevent
cancer, believe UK researchers.
