Grape news, red wine may inhibit cancer

An INGREDIENT found in red wine can stop breast cancer cells growing and may combat resistant forms of the disease, research suggests.

Resveratrol, a plant chemical found in grapes and red wine, blocks the cancer-fuelling effects of the female hormone oestrogen, studies have shown.

It can also inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells that have become hormone resistant, say scientists.

This could have important implications for women whose tumours are no longer responding to hormone therapies such as tamoxifen.

Hormone-sensitive tumours make up the vast majority of breast cancers.

Often they can be treated effectively with surgery and hormonal therapies. But in about half of all cases the cancer develops resistance.

“Resveratrol is a potential pharmacological tool to be exploited when breast cancer becomes resistant to hormonal therapy,” said study leader Dr Sebastanio Ando, from the University of Calabria.