Antioxidant Supplements May Accelerate Cancer Spread, Study Finds
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
A new study suggests that antioxidants, including vitamin E supplements, may accelerate cancer metastasis by stabilizing the BACH1 protein, which aids malignant cell migration. Researchers advise caution with high-dose antioxidant supplements, especially for cancer patients.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Antioxidants may promote cancer spread, contrary to prior beliefs.
- Vitamin E supplements linked to increased lung cancer progression.
- Protein BACH1 plays a key role in malignant cell migration.
- Excess antioxidants stabilize BACH1, aiding tumor spread.
- Doctors recommend caution with high-dose antioxidant supplements.
Antioxidants, long believed to aid in cancer prevention, may instead promote the spread of cancerous tumors, according to new research by American and Swedish scientists. Specifically, vitamin E supplements have been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer progression.
Swedish researcher Martin Bergö discovered that vitamin E's impact on the protein BACH1, which is crucial for malignant cell migration, could be detrimental. Previous assumptions about vitamin E's protective qualities against cancer are now being re-evaluated.
Experiments conducted on mice and human tissues revealed how cancer cells utilize antioxidants to shield themselves from the damaging effects of rapid growth. The protein BACH1 acts as a central regulator in the signaling pathway that governs tumor cell dissemination and invasion into healthy tissues.
In undifferentiated non-small cell lung cancer, mutations were found to enhance the activity of the NRF2 protein. This protein boosts antioxidant production while simultaneously reducing levels of reactive oxygen species, which normally induce oxidative stress capable of destroying cancer cells. However, an excess of antioxidants stabilizes BACH1, thereby facilitating aggressive tumor spread.
These findings challenge the universal benefit of antioxidant supplements for cancer patients. Medical professionals advise caution regarding high-dose vitamin E and other antioxidant supplements without a doctor's recommendation, emphasizing the need to consider potential risks, especially for those with existing malignancies. The article also briefly mentions a separate Israeli scientific breakthrough in cancer treatment involving novel "computer-designed" antibodies.
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