Quebec scientists have found that the Brazilian camu camu berry, already recognized for its protective effects against obesity and diabetes, may also help treat cancer, according to MedicalXpress..

In a cancer discovery study, the team of Bertrand Routy, professor of medicine at the University of Montreal, showed that one compound from the fruit could play a positive role in immunotherapy..

“Through this study, conducted with our colleagues at Laval University and McGill University, we have proven that castalagin, a polyphenol that acts as a prebiotic, alters the gut microbiome and improves response to immunotherapy, even in cancers resistant to this type of treatment.”.

These results pave the way for clinical trials in which castalagin will be used as an adjunct to drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients..

In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have given patients new hope that their immune systems can overcome cancer resistance by revolutionizing therapies targeting melanoma and lung cancer.. This type of immunotherapy activates the immune system to destroy cancer cells.. Despite these improvements, only a minority of patients experience long-lasting responses to immunotherapy, akin to a cure, which is why researchers like Ruthie have been looking for new therapeutic approaches.. Their ultimate goal is to turn an unhealthy microbiome into a healthy one to boost the immune system..

Among the strategies Ruthie came up with is one that uses prebiotics, chemical compounds that can improve the composition of the gut microbiome..

“To evaluate the beneficial effects of castalagin, we administered the prebiotic orally to mice that received faecal transplantation from CCI-resistant patients,” he said.. “We found that castalagin binds to beneficial gut bacteria, Ruminococcus bromii, and promotes an anti-cancer response.”.

Discovery will soon be tested in patients with the launch of the first clinical trial combining camu camu berry and ICIs. Recruitment of 45 patients with lung cancer or melanoma will begin this month at the Chuma and Jewish General Hospital.

Article “Natural Polyphenol Demonstrates Antitumor Activity and Bypasses PD-1 Resistance by Interacting with the Gut Microbiota” was published January 14, 2022 in the journal Cancer Discovery.

medical-heal. en.