According to a study conducted on certain cell lines melanoma (one of the forms of skin cancer) by researchers at the University of Missouri, USA, it appears that resveratrol, one of the compounds in grapes, contributes to the effectiveness of radiotherapy. This study, published in the professional journal Journal of Surgical Researchsuggests that resveratrol may be combined with radiation therapy to speed up treatment of some cancerous tumors. “When cancer cells are treated with resveratrol alone, 44% of them die. When they are treated with a combination of resveratrol + radiotherapy, 65% of the cells die ”explain the researchers.
Resveratrol is a polyphenol found in grapes and blackberries (and therefore in wine). Numerous studies are currently being carried out on its role in the prevention of aging as well as on its cardioprotective effects. But this is the first time that research has focused on resveratrol and the treatment of cancerous tumors.
“The challenge remains delivering sufficient amounts of resveratrol to tumors,” explains Prof. Mike Nicholls of the University of Missouri, who led the study. “But if we can develop an effective way to deliver the compound to tumor sites, resveratrol could be used to treat many types of cancer.”
Recall that another clinical trial is currently underway in the United States to test the effects of resveratrol on patients with Alzheimer’s disease .
