Cancer: The fruit shown to 'selectively' kill cancer - may be 'more effective' than chemo

The effects of diet on cancer remain largely understudied, but early research has shown that one fruit, purported to have medicinal qualities, can slow the spread of the disease. Other research suggests it may enhance the performance of traditional therapies, or selectively kill several types of cancer cells. Doctors, however, have advised against its use in cancer prevention due to a lack of research on humans.

Graviola comes from the trees of rainforests in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia, where it is commonly consumed.

The fruit's pulp is used widely in juices, and smoothies, but can be bought in its organic form from certain tropical fruit suppliers in the UK.

According to WebMD: "Soursop is high in vitamin C, and antioxidants known to boost immune health."

Research shows it strengthens the immune system by improving the ability to defend against pathogens and promoting the destruction of free radicals.

 Getty cancer

Some studies have studied the effects of the fruit on cancer, suggesting it may help selectively kill malignant cells.

Writing in the Journal of Yoga, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Constantino Mazzanobile, from the Department of Mental Health at the New York University, cited research showing that Graviola's effects on cancer were not only compared with Adriamycin but surpassed it blatantly in laboratory studies.

The research, published in the Journal of Natural Products, suggested that two compounds extracted from the seeds demonstrated effects comparable to Adriamycin - a drug widely used in chemotherapy.

Mr Mazzanobile: "A compound in the plant has selectively destroyed the cancerous cells of the colon with a power of 10,000 times higher than adriamycin.

"Even researchers at Purdue University found that extracts of Graviola leaves have eliminated the cancer cells in at least six types of cancer and have been especially effective against cells of prostate cancer and pancreatitis."

This holds significance in light of recent figures showing a sharp rise in the prevalence of prostate cancer in the UK, which now affects one in eight men.

Doctor Quinton Fivelman, Chief Scientific Officer at London Laboratory, said: "For the first time, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Britain, ahead of breast cancer and lung cancer."

The soursop extract, however, appears to also work on cancer cells in the colon and breast, leaving healthy cells intact, which chemotherapy cannot do.

Other laboratory studies have shown that Graviola extracts can kill some types of liver cancer cells.

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This was confirmed by one body of research published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 2016, which highlighted the toxic effects soursop had on cancer cells.

The researchers wrote: "[...] Crude extract samples exhibited different levels of cytotoxicity toward breast cancer cell lines."

They continued: "The results suggest that [the extract] is a promising candidate for cancer treatment, especially in breast cancer and deserves much further research as an alternative to conventional drugs [...]."

Animal studies have also shown that the pulp extract has an effect on prostate cancer cells in mice, which are the cells most often found to be resistant to chemotherapy drugs.

It appears, however, that there is a lack of evidence to support the use of the fruit extract to treat or stave off cancer in humans. This means there is not enough information regarding the fruit's efficacy and safety.

 Getty Soursop

Side effects reported in connection to the fruit, however, have concerned scientists, with some research suggesting that chemicals in the fruit may cause nerve changes and movement disorders.

"The nerve changes may cause symptoms like Parkinson's disease," says Cancer Research UK.

Laboratory research has found that some substances in Graviola can cause nerve damage. It crosses into the brain from the bloodstream."

With no evidence of the fruit's safety and efficacy of the fruit in humans, experts advise against its consumption to prevent cancer. 

Reference: Daily Express: Solen Le Net

Haemophilia B ‘cured’ by ‘miraculous’ treatment in major breakthrough

The rare disorder is caused by a change on the factor IX gene on the X-chromosome.

Normally, when a person cuts themselves, clotting factors mix with blood cells called platelets to make the bleeding stop.

But people with haemophilia lack clotting factors and are at risk of heavy bleeding.

The level of the IX gene in the blood of haemophiliacs is too low complete the clotting process. As a result, bleeding can also occur inside the body, from joints and from the skin.

But a medical team from Royal Free Hospital and University College London now say the majority of adults living with haemophilia B could be cured within three years.

During the trial to test the therapy, developed with biotechnology company Freeline Therapeutics, participants were given an engineered virus which delivered the instructions for manufacturing the missing factor IX gene to the liver - which in turn triggers the production of the clotting protein.

One participant, Elliott Mason, of London, told BBC News he now feels “completely normal” as a result of a single infusion that took just one hour to drip into his system.

“I’ve not had any treatment since I had my therapy. It’s all a miracle really. Well it’s science, but it feels quite miraculous to me,” he added.

A common preventative treatment for the disorder is to replace the missing or reduce factor IX with a lab-made substitute delivered via regular injections, usually given weekly at home.

The jabs can cost between £150,000 and £200,000 per patient per year and patients can suffer debilitating joint damage.

But, according to the findings of the trial, nine out of 10 patients offered the new treatment no longer need their clotting injections.

Leader author Pratima Chowdary, a consultant haematologist at the Royal Free Hospital and professor at University College London, said: “Removing the need for haemophilia patients to regularly inject themselves with the missing protein is an important step in improving their quality of life.

“The long-term follow up study will monitor the patients for durability of expression and surveillance for late effects.”

She told the BBC that there was a “transformational impact” about a year after the therapy, when recipients realised they “don’t need to worry about [their] haemophilia at all”.

Patients on the trial had to take immune-suppressing drugs over several weeks to several months, to prevent their immune systems from rejecting the therapy.

While the treatment was generally well-tolerated, all patients experienced some form of side-effects, with an abnormal blood clot in one who received the highest FLT180a dose and had the highest levels of the protein.

Freeline co-founder Professor Amit Nathwani, from UCL, who co-authored the study, said: "Gene therapy is still a young field that pushes the boundaries of science for people with severe genetic diseases."

He said the new trial adds to "the growing body of evidence that gene therapy has the potential to free patients from the challenges of having to adhere to lifelong therapy or could provide treatment where none exists today."

The trial, the findings of which were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, is the latest in a string of advances in treating both haemophilia A, which is caused by a mutation in a different gene, and B.

Since the liver continues to develop before the age of 12, doctors hope the therapy can be offered from that point onwards.

It is not yet known what the cost of the new gene therapy will be or how long it remains effective for, though current estimates suggest at least a decade.

Around 85 per cent of haemophiliacs have haemophilia A, which is caused by a lack of the blood clotting factor VIII. 

Reference: Independent: Emily Atkinson

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Parkinson's disease symptoms: What is your posture like? The surprising sign

The NHS says: "Parkinson's disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years." You should see your GP if you're concerned you may have symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's UK says that around 145,000 people live with Parkinson's in the UK, and that it is "the fastest growing neurological condition in the world".

The charity explains that Parkinson's develops when cells in the brain stop working properly and are lost over time. These brain cells produce a chemical called dopamine.

Reference: daily Express: Harriet Whitehead