Red Wine's Resveratrol Compound May Shrink Certain Cancerous Tumors

Resveratrol, a compound found in grapes and red wine, has been touted as a potential anti-cancer supplement for years, but questions remained. A new study helps shed light on the compound's anti-cancer properties, specifically on its ability to inhibit the collecting of a certain mutant protein, ultimately helping fight against certain cancers.

The findings were detailed in a study out of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and the State University of Rio de Janeiro. In it, researchers explain that resveratrol may reduce the size of tumors caused by the aggregation of mutant p53 protein. This is the first time tumor reduction has been demonstrated in a study, adding to the body of research on this compound.

According to the study, amyloid aggregates of mutant p53 protein are found in approximately 60-percent of cancerous tumors. For this reason, anti-cancer research has looked at strategies that target this mutant protein as a potential treatment for malignant tumors.

Talking about the research is study co-author Danielly C. Ferraz da Costa, who said, "The findings bring scientists closer to the development of a drug capable of acting directly on the amyloid aggregation of the mutant p53." The research could help lead to future treatments for malignant tumors found in breast and lung cancer, among others.

SOURCE: EurekAlert