Nutraceutical therapy discovered to minimize cancer metastasis risk, according to Mumbai doctors

MUMBAI: Doctors at Tata Memorial Centre here revealed a monumental breakthrough in the research of cancer metastasis. After a decade-long study published in renowned journals, the doctors have unveiled a mechanism that sheds light on how cancer spreads in the body. They have also developed a nutraceutical therapy that aims to minimize the risk of metastasis.

Dying cancer cells release ‘chromosome fragments,’ known as chromatin, which can fuse with healthy cells and give rise to new tumors, as reported in the study.

A nutraceutical is defined as a food or food product that extends benefits to health beyond basic nutrition. This is often due to the presence of bioactive compounds or medicinal properties in the product.

The research conducted by the doctors also raised concerns about the potential risks associated with current cancer treatment practices. The study’s lead researcher, Dr. Indraneel Mittra, highlighted that while chemotherapy and radiotherapy effectively target and kill primary tumor cells, they also prompt the dying cancer cells to release chromatin, or cfChPs. These can then enter healthy cells in distant parts of the body through the bloodstream and potentially initiate new cancer growth.

Further studies conducted on cfChPs revealed a potential resolution to combat their adverse effects on the body. The doctors at Tata Memorial Centre discovered that the nutraceutical, made from a combination of copper and a plant extract (grapes or berries), could neutralize cfChPs and effectively reduce the risk of metastasis. Dr. Rajendra Badwe, former TMC director, confirmed this breakthrough and announced a partnership with a nutraceutical manufacturer to produce the medicine. It is anticipated that this groundbreaking therapy, intended as a supportive treatment alongside chemotherapy, will become available to patients in June.

The topic of cancer metastasis has long intrigued the medical community, with numerous cases in which the primary tumor is successfully treated, yet the patient does not survive. Dr. Mittra and his team conducted an experiment by injecting human breast cancer cells into mice. They discovered that even after removing the tumor through surgery or treated it with chemotherapy or radiation, the biopsy of the mice’s brain revealed the presence of cfChPs derived from the cancer cells. These findings were replicated in further rounds of research, with the nutraceutical ultimately leading to significantly reduced cfChP levels.

The doctors pursued additional studies focusing on the use of the nutraceutical, referred to as R-Cu, in human patients. The results favorably demonstrated the potential of R-Cu as an adjunct treatment alongside conventional therapies.

Dr. Navin Khattry, TMC deputy director, recounted using R-Cu in 20 patients with blood cancer who developed painful ulcers in their mouths and esophagus after bone marrow transplant. The patients who received R-Cu experienced reduced ulcer formation. Similarly, patients with stomach cancer observed positive outcomes when R-Cu was administered concurrently with standard treatments. These findings were published in the indexed journal Medical Oncology in November 2022.

Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi, an oral cancer surgeon, further emphasized that the use of relatively affordable nutraceuticals as complementary treatments could substantially decrease the toxicity associated with chemotherapy.

The doctors concluded that their findings have profound implications for cancer treatment policies. Firstly, clinicians must consider the potential role of cfChPs in the spread of metastatic cancer instead of solely attributing metastasis to the migration of cancer cells. Secondly, cancer treatment protocols should contemplate incorporating agents that can either deactivate or destroy cfChPs. These measures have the potential to revolutionize the approach to cancer treatment and offer new hope for patients.