Experts at the University of Rochester Medical Centre have found that a natural antioxidant occurring in grape skins and red wine could help to destroy pancreatic cancer cells when used alongside conventional treatments.
Researchers treated pancreatic cancer cells in the laboratory with the antioxidant resveratrol followed by radiation therapy.
They found that the combination of the antioxidant and irradiation induced apoptosis, a form of natural cell death.
Lead author Dr Paul Okunieff, chief of radiation oncology at the university's James P Wilmot Cancer Centre, said that the findings could have many implications for cancer treatments.
Commenting on the findings, which are published in Advances of Experimental Medicine and Biology, he said: "Antioxidant research is very active and very seductive right now.
"While additional studies are needed, this research indicates that resveratrol has a promising future as part of the treatment for cancer."
Experts at the University of Rochester Medical Centre have found that a natural antioxidant occurring in grape skins and red wine could help to destroy pancreatic cancer cells when used alongside conventional treatments.
