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Dietary Phytochemicals Can Reduce Treatment Side Effects

February 27, 2018

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According to recent research conducted in Italy, compounds found in fruits and vegetables can potentially help to slow the progress of malignant mesothelioma. These compounds, known as phytochemicals, regulate microRNAs, molecules necessary for gene regulation. Cancer causes microRNAs to become dysregulated, which causes the cancer cells to increase metastasis and generate more cancer cells, making the cancer more difficult to kill.

One specific compound found to help slow the growth of mesothelioma is called phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC). PEITC is found in a variety of food sources. In the study, the researchers suggested that mesothelioma patients can potentially aid their own cancer treatment by incorporating more foods that provide PEITC into their regular diets. Other phytochemicals, such as ursolic acid, can also help patients slow their condition’s progress by regulating microRNAs.

Vegetables and Other Foods that Provide Phytochemicals

According to the National Cancer Institute, PEITC is found in the following vegetables:

• Bok choy
• Broccoli
• Arugula
• Radishes
• Kale
• Watercress
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Brussels sprouts
• Collard greens

Phytochemicals can be found in other types of food, including:

• Curcumin: an antioxidant found in turmeric that can reduce inflammation.
• Genistein: an isoflavone found in soybeans and soy-based foods. Isoflavones can be used to prevent breast cancer and reduce symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopause.
• Ellagic acid: a phytochemical found in strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries. It can prevent cancer and treat viral and bacterial infections.
• Quercetin: a flavonoid known to have many health benefits. These benefits include heart health, reduced inflammation, reduced allergy symptoms, pain reduction, improved endurance, and a potential to fight cancer.

How Phytochemicals Fight Cancer Cells Alongside Chemotherapy

A team of French researchers found that PEITC works well alongside a popular chemotherapy drug, cisplatin, to effectively kill mesothelioma cells. Although both compounds can kill these cells, the researchers found that the patients whose treatments included both compounds saw the greatest reduction in cancer cells. Their research also found that this combination treatment plan could have fewer side effects than standard chemotherapy treatment.

In the case of cisplatin and PEITC together, healthy cells are not impacted by the treatment. According to one of the researchers involved in this study, the combination could potentially be worked into a localized treatment, which would give doctors the ability to treat mesothelioma tumors directly by injecting a cisplatin and PEITC combination drug into the spaces between patients’ lungs and pleura. This can help patients avoid the negative side effects of traditional chemotherapy, which include fatigue, hair loss, infection, and anemia. In addition to being safe, cisplatin combined with PEITC was found to be effective and prevented chemo-resistance.

Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler Help Mesothelioma Patients Pursue Compensation for their Damages

If you are currently fighting mesothelioma, consider your treatment options. Talk to your doctor about how you can aid your treatment by altering your diet and talk to an experienced Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyer about pursuing compensation for your illness-related expenses. To get started, fill out our online form or call 215-569-4000 to schedule your initial consultation with a member of Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler today. Our office is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and we serve clients from the surrounding areas.