Modified Citrus Pectin Enhances Anti-Cancer Activity of Two Botanical Formulas, Reduces Metastasis

SAN FRANCISCO, March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- New research adds to the growing body of evidence that modified citrus pectin (MCP), a natural supplement derived from the pith of citrus fruit, has a powerful effect against cancer. In a study just published in the March 2013 issue of the journal Integrative Cancer Therapies, MCP enhanced the anti-cancer effects of two botanical formulas, one for breast cancer and one for prostate cancer. The combination treatment decreased cancer cell aggressiveness, reduced migration and inhibited metastasis in highly metastatic MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells and aggressive, PC-3 hormone refractory human prostate cancer cells. The study was conducted by researchers at the Cancer Research Laboratory at Indiana University Health.

"Metastasis is what makes cancer so deadly," said head investigator Dr. Daniel Sliva, associate professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine. "It's no secret that specific proteins in cancer cells cause aggressive behavior. We now know that by combining modified citrus pectin with these formulas, we can further suppress aggressive cancer activity and significantly reduce metastasis."

The researchers determined that the breast and prostate formulas by themselves decreased cancer aggressiveness, measured by cell adhesion to human fibronectin, a key component in the extracellular matrix, as well as cancer cell migration and invasion. However, when combined with MCP, the anti-cancer effects of both formulas were significantly increased.

The unique anti-breast cancer formula, which contains botanically enhanced medicinal mushrooms, diindolylmethane (an active form of a compound found in cruciferous vegetables) and a variety of botanical extracts, decreased breast cancer cell adhesion by 21 %. However, when co-administered with MCP, researchers observed a 40 % decrease. The anti-cancer effects of this breast formula have been shown in previous published studies to reduce aggressive breast cancer proliferation and metastasis by up to 70 %. This is now the third peer reviewed study showing the safety and efficacy of this anti-breast cancer formula in pre-clinical models.

In addition, the unique anti-prostate cancer formula, which contains a comprehensive blend of antioxidants, herbal extracts, and botanically enhanced medicinal mushrooms, decreased prostate cancer cell adhesion by 9 % in this study. However, when MCP was added, adhesion was reduced by as much as 40 %. Cancer cell migration was also reduced by these combination therapies. This is the fourth peer reviewed published study to demonstrate the anti-cancer effects of this botanical prostate formula in pre-clinical studies.

"This study is very significant because it demonstrates the importance of combining targeted anti-cancer compounds which can work together synergistically for greater impact against the disease," said co-author and integrative medicine expert Isaac Eliaz, MD.  "MCP makes these formulas significantly more effective. Furthermore, the powerful anti-cancer actions demonstrated by these combinations offer a safe and effective adjuvant therapy to patients with aggressive cancers who wish to increase the efficacy of their current treatment regimen."

The researchers also investigated levels of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), a protein marker for aggressive cancers. High uPA levels have been found to promote cancer cell adhesion, migration and invasion. Both formulas have been shown in previous research to reduce uPA. Again, combining these formulas with MCP resulted in further suppression of uPA.

Numerous studies have shown that MCP binds and blocks galectin-3, a signaling protein associated with cancer aggressiveness, angiogenesis, aggregation and metastasis. MCP has also been found to significantly increase the immune response including natural killer (NK) cell activation, with demonstrated activity against human leukemia cells. Furthermore, in addition to its synergistic actions with botanical formulas, MCP has been shown to work synergistically with chemotherapeutic agents, such as doxorubicin, allowing for greater efficacy, lower dosages and fewer side effects.

Source: Jiang J, Eliaz I, Sliva D. Synergistic and additive effects of modified citrus pectin with two polybotanical compounds, in the suppression of invasive behavior of human breast and prostate cancer cells. Integr Cancer Ther. 2013 Mar;12(2):145-52

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