The research project, which takes place in the University of
Leicester�s Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine and at
the Leicester General Hospital, has already established that in a
laboratory model Mirtoselect decreases the development of colorectal
cancer.
Now, working with Mr Dave Berry, Hepatobiliary surgeon at the General
Hospital, they are looking to see how much of the bilberry extract
actually gets into human tissue and whether there are changes in the
tissue that may have been caused by the substance.
If so, then that indicates that taking the extract over a long period
may be beneficial. If not, then the researchers have to decide whether
it is feasible to increase the dose and whether it is right to go
forward to a major clinical trial.
By comparing results with their laboratory model, the research team
will have an indication as to how effective the bilberry extract is
likely to be in preventing cancer. This will help them to design a
protocol for a future clinical trial that will test whether it really
does interfere with the onset of colorectal or liver cancer.
Ms Thomasset explained: "Modern medicine is increasingly trying to
find ways to prevent diseases from developing. You can see this in the
Public Health Warnings on tobacco products. Our research project is
looking at substances which can be taken as tablets and which may slow
down the development of a cancer, or even prevent it from occurring in
the first place.
"In the future, these agents could be used as drugs to stop cancers
from developing in apparently healthy people, or they could be used to
prevent it recurring in patients who have had successful treatment of
cancer. The ideal type of drug to use for this would be one with very
few, or no, side effects, which could be taken daily for many years
with no problems."
The Mirtoselect project is the latest in a long line of research
carried out by Professor Gescher and Professor Will Steward, working
with surgical colleagues at the Leicester General Hospital.
Professor Gescher commented: "We are interested in agents, many of
them derived from diet, which may prevent cancer or delay its onset.
For quite a number of years we have been working on curcumin, the
yellow constituent of curry.
"Our current research, funded by Hope Against Cancer, involves
berries, coloured blue or red, which contain chemicals called
anthocyanins. These have long been suspected to have a beneficial
effect in this sense.
"We take an individual chemical out of its context and investigate it.
Instead of asking people to eat a punnet of bilberries, we ask them to
take Mirtoselect, which contains anthocyanins. We also study whether
anthocyanins are more efficacious when they are part of a dietary
mixture. There is some evidence to say that this may be the case."
Developing a new drug, even one derived solely from fruit or some
other food substance, is time-consuming, and Ms Thomasset is still
recruiting colorectal and liver cancer patients to help with the study.
In the meantime, one of her principal tasks is to take body fluids
such as urine and plasma from participating patients and check how
much of the bilberry extract is present.
"This is an extremely expensive process, and it is this that the Hope
funding pays for," explained Professor Gescher. "All the reagents
Sarah needs, she can buy without using up our internal budget. It is
fantastic for us. When we need to buy reagents for the analysis or
antibodies there�s no problem. Unlike many of our colleagues, we don�t
have to scratch our heads and take up time wondering where to get the
money from. We are very fortunate."
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