Grape Seed as a Natural Breast Cancer Chemopreventive Agent
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Introduction: A class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are effective in breast cancer (BC) treatment, and may also be effective for BC prevention in women who have entered menopause. Herbal dietary supplements are a popular form of cancer prevention for healthy women. Our group demonstrated that grape seed extract (GSE) acts like an AI in mice. This led us to conduct a human clinical trial to test the AI activity of GSE. The prospective collection and storage of blood during the course of the trial will allow us to study markers of BC risk reduction and potential long-term side effects. The purpose of this proposal is to utilize resources from the ongoing trial to gather data to gain further understanding of the spectrum of GSE action, as well as its potential long-term adverse effects. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Hypotheses: We want to address five main questions: (1) Does GSE adversely affect the testosterone-related hormones? These hormones are present in low levels in women and are important for maintaining bone health, libido, memory, and a general sense of well-being. High levels are associated with elevated breast cancer risk and unwanted hair growth. (2) Does GSE adversely affect cholesterol or blood clotting proteins that are associated with heart disease? (3) Does GSE reduce insulin resistance? This has been associated with breast cancer risk. (4) Does GSE reduce new blood vessel growth? This also has been associated with breast cancer development. Finally, (5) can previously unknown anti-cancer effects of GSE be discovered through the use of a new technology called proteomics? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Methodology: Twenty-four postmenopausal women at increased risk for BC are being studied in our ongoing GSE trial. Blood is being collected and stored during the course of the study. This proposal outlines aims to use the stored blood to measure how GSE affects the following laboratory studies: testosterone-related hormones, cholesterol and blood clotting factors, insulin studies, a specific blood vessel growth factor, and blood protein profiles via proteomics. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Innovative elements: The ongoing clinical study represents the first step in applying the AI effect of GSE discovered at the laboratory bench, by our group with CBCRP support, to women with high risk for developing BC. The additional laboratory studies proposed will provide crucial information in determining the usefulness of GSE as a natural BC prevention agent, as well as provide a better understanding of how GSE works in humans. No one knows the effects of AIs or GSE on the factors proposed. Further, both sensitive and precise laboratory methods and cutting-edge exploratory protein profiling technology will be used in these experiments. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Advocacy involvement and human issues: With BC being the most common cancer in American women, development of a well-tolerated, inexpensive, natural product that reduces breast cancer risk would have an enormous public health impact. If GSE can be shown to be effective in reducing the risk of BC, while at the same time preserving overall health, it could become an economical and noninvasive alternative for breast cancer risk reduction. The fact that GSE is inexpensive and widely available will allow greater access to underserved women with a high risk for BC.