In 1997 it was discovered that resveratrol has anti-cancer properties. Since then, many researchers have been working on resveratrol’s mechanism of action. This passed month has been fruitful in the of breast cancer field. Breast cancer is the second most common diagnosed cancer in women accounting for 28% of cases. [1][2]
In an effort to understand this cancer, a group of researchers compared multiple breast cancer cell lines treated with resveratrol and rapamycin (a commonly used immunosuppressant drug used to treat patients with organ transplants) (Cancer letters Volume 301, February 2011, pages 168-176).
Their objective was to determine which proteins are involved in the inhibition of the breast cancer cells. What they found was that P13K/AKT pathway was involved. For those not familiar with this proteins, it should be noted that these proteins (P13K/AKT) have been associated with regulating pathways associated with “turning on” telomerase activity but also linked to better health and extension of cellular life.