Compounds in cranberries may improve the effectiveness of platinum-based chemotherapy drugs that are used to fight ovarian cancer, according to a study led by Ajay P. Singh, Ph.D., and Nicholi Vorsa, Ph.D from Rutgers University. The scientists showed that human ovarian cancer cells in cell culture studies were up to 6 times more sensitized to the drugs after the exposure to the cranberry compounds compared to cells that were not exposed. They treated the cells with a purified extract of commercially available cranberry drink (containing 27 percent pure juice), and then exposed the cells to the platinum drug paraplatin. Human studies are still needed, note the researchers.
The researchers believe that the active compounds are antioxidants called 'A-type' proanthocyanidins that are unique to cranberries. Based on other studies by other groups, the compounds appear to bind to and block certain tumor promoter proteins, making the cells more vulnerable to the platinum drugs.
Next steps includes isolating the active compounds and doing further studies, including studies in humans.
