Pineapple Extract Enhances Chemo Effectiveness on Mesothelioma Cells

A future cancer treatment may have emerged with the recent discovery that bromelain, a pineapple extract, can improve the effectiveness of cisplatin chemotherapy on peritoneal mesothelioma tumor cells. Bromelain is an enzyme found in the stem and the juice of a pineapple. It has been part of the natural, alternative medicine culture for many years, dating back centuries in Central and South America. The pineapple enzyme may be close to moving into the realm of more conventional medicine in a very significant way, thanks to recent, groundbreaking research at the University of New South Wales in Australia. "This is a treatment combination that is really dramatic, and likely to alter the efficacy of chemotherapy in many types of cancer," Professor David Morris, UNSW Department of Surgery, told Asbestos.com. "It has been exciting to see." Searching for Answers The lack of effective treatment options for all types of mesothelioma continues to frustrate medical professionals trying to treat the rare, but aggressive cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Standard treatment today includes a chemotherapy regimen that typically involves cisplatin or pemetrexed, although it comes with difficult side effects and works inconsistently. The majority of mesothelioma patients live less than 18 months after diagnosis, even with the best care. Bromelain might change that prognosis in the future. Although previo...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Treatment & Doctors Source Type: news