Ellagic acid

Property	Information
Drug Name	Ellagic Acid
FDA Approval	No (Utilized as a dietary component; not FDA-approved for cancer treatment)
Used for	Investigational use in cancer prevention and treatment; noted for potential anti-cancer properties in laboratory studies
Clinical Trial Phase	Preclinical and early clinical trials (e.g., prostate cancer study at UCLA)
Clinical Trial Explanation	Not specified
Common Side Effects	Not specifically documented; as a naturally occurring compound in fruits and nuts, it is generally considered safe
OS without	Not specified
OS with	Not applicable; current research focuses on biochemical effects and prevention metrics like PSA doubling time in prostate cancer
PFS without	Not specified
PFS with	Not applicable; direct impacts on progression-free survival in cancer patients are not yet established
Usefulness Rating	3
Usefulness Explanation	Not specified
Toxicity Level	1
Toxicity Explanation	Ellagic Acid, derived from fruits and nuts, is generally considered safe due to its natural origins. It has not been documented to cause specific side effects. However, it's important to note it's still in preclinical and early trial phases, with a focus on cancer prevention rather than treatment. A toxicity level of 1 signifies that it has not been associated with severe harm or side effects, though more extensive clinical research is needed.

Notes: Ellagic Acid, found in various fruits and nuts, exhibits anti-cancer properties in laboratory experiments, including the inhibition of cell division and induction of apoptosis. Although clinical trials specific to brain cancer are lacking, a study with prostate cancer patients demonstrated that pomegranate juice, rich in ellagitannins (ellagic acid precursors), significantly slowed the increase in PSA levels, suggesting a potential for cancer management. These findings indicate ellagic acid's promise in cancer prevention and warrant further clinical investigation to confirm its efficacy and therapeutic application in oncology.

From Ben Williams Book: Ellagic Acid

This is a family of phenolic compounds present in fruits and nuts, including raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, pomegranate juice, and walnuts. In laboratory experiments it has been shown to potently inhibit the growth of various chemical-induced cancers, with the basis of the effect being an arrest of cell division in the G stage, thus

inducing the programmed cell death known as apoptosis. While there have been no trials to assess its clinical effects with brain cancer, a recent clinical trial, performed at UCLA with prostate cancer demonstrate its potential (288). Patients with prostate cancer, whose PSA levels were rising after initial treatment with either surgery or radiation, drank pomegranate juice (8 oz/ daily), which contains high levels of eligitannnins (precursors to ellagic acid). The dependent measure was the rate of increase in the PSA level, which typically rises at a steady rate for this category of patients. Pomegranate juice produced �an increase in PSA doubling time, from 15 months at baseline to 54 months after consuming the juice. Of the 46 patients in the trial, 85% exhibited a notable increase in the doubling time, and 16% had decreases in their PSA.

Fish oil (source of omega-3 fatty acids)

The major omega-3 fatty acids found in cold-water fish oil, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have also been demonstrated to have potent cytotoxic effects on cancer cells in various laboratory experiments. Part of their mechanism of action is similar to that of GLA, in that the metabolism of these fatty acids creates high levels of free radicals. In addition, a recent laboratory study has shown that EPA-treated tumors showed a significant arrest of cell division due to inhibition of cyclins at the G1 phase of cell division, which resulted in an increased rate of programmed cell death known as apoptosis (241).

A clinical trial comparing fish-oil supplements versus a placebo has also been reported, involving patients with several different types of advanced cancer (242). Thirty malnourished patients suffering from cachexia were randomly assigned to receive 18 g of fish oil per day or a placebo sugar pill. An additional thirty subjects, adequately nourished, received a similar random assignment. For both groups the fish oil significantly increased survival. For the malnourished patients the median survival times, as estimated from their survivor functions, were 110 days for the patients receiving placebo and 210 days for patients in the fish oil group. For the adequately nourished patients, the corresponding numbers were 350 versus 500 days.

In laboratory studies (243) fish oil has also been shown to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation. A phase II trial involving 25 heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients, used 1.8 g/day of DHA, one of the two major fatty acids in fish oil, in combination with standard anthracycline-based chemotherapy (244). Patients previously had failed both chemotherapy and hormone treatments and many had multiple metastases, including many liver metastases. Because this was a phase II trial, there was no control group that received chemotherapy alone, but patients were subdivided according to their level of plasma DHA. The two groups were approximately equal with respect to all major prognostic variables. Median survival for the high DHA patients was 34 months, vs. 18 months for the low-DHA patients.

A second clinical trial presented 2200 mg of EPA plus 240 mg of DHA to patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer (245). Patients either received only the standard of care of chemotherapy, or the same treatment in combination with daily fish oil. Response rate (tumor regressions) was 60% in the fish oil group and 26% in those receiving only the standard of care. One-year survival was 60% in the fish oil group versus 39% in those receiving only chemotherapy. Chemotherapy toxicity was also decreased in those using fish oil.Property "Has original text" (as page type) with input value "Ellagic Acid</br></br>This is a family of phenolic compounds present in fruits and nuts, including raspberries,</br>blueberries, strawberries, pomegranate juice, and walnuts. In laboratory experiments it</br>has been shown to potently inhibit the growth of various chemical-induced cancers, with</br>the basis of the effect being an arrest of cell division in the G stage, thus</br></br>inducing the programmed cell death known as apoptosis. While there have been no trials</br>to assess its clinical effects with brain cancer, a recent clinical trial, performed at UCLA</br>with prostate cancer demonstrate its potential (288). Patients with prostate cancer, whose</br>PSA levels were rising after initial treatment with either surgery or radiation, drank</br>pomegranate juice (8 oz/ daily), which contains high levels of eligitannnins (precursors to</br>ellagic acid). The dependent measure was the rate of increase in the PSA level, which</br>typically rises at a steady rate for this category of patients. Pomegranate juice produced</br>�an increase in PSA doubling time, from 15 months at baseline to 54 months after</br>consuming the juice. Of the 46 patients in the trial, 85% exhibited a notable increase in</br>the doubling time, and 16% had decreases in their PSA.</br></br>Fish oil (source of omega-3 fatty acids)</br></br>The major omega-3 fatty acids found in cold-water fish oil, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)</br>and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have also been demonstrated to have potent cytotoxic</br>effects on cancer cells in various laboratory experiments. Part of their mechanism of</br>action is similar to that of GLA, in that the metabolism of these fatty acids creates high</br>levels of free radicals. In addition, a recent laboratory study has shown that EPA-treated</br>tumors showed a significant arrest of cell division due to inhibition of cyclins at the G1</br>phase of cell division, which resulted in an increased rate of programmed cell death</br>known as apoptosis (241).</br></br>A clinical trial comparing fish-oil supplements versus a placebo has also been reported,</br>involving patients with several different types of advanced cancer (242). Thirty</br>malnourished patients suffering from cachexia were randomly assigned to receive 18 g of</br>fish oil per day or a placebo sugar pill. An additional thirty subjects, adequately</br>nourished, received a similar random assignment. For both groups the fish oil</br>significantly increased survival. For the malnourished patients the median survival times,</br>as estimated from their survivor functions, were 110 days for the patients receiving</br>placebo and 210 days for patients in the fish oil group. For the adequately nourished</br>patients, the corresponding numbers were 350 versus 500 days.</br></br>In laboratory studies (243) fish oil has also been shown to increase the effectiveness of</br>chemotherapy and radiation. A phase II trial involving 25 heavily pretreated metastatic</br>breast cancer patients, used 1.8 g/day of DHA, one of the two major fatty acids in fish oil,</br>in combination with standard anthracycline-based chemotherapy (244). Patients</br>previously had failed both chemotherapy and hormone treatments and many had</br>multiple metastases, including many liver metastases. Because this was a phase II trial,</br>there was no control group that received chemotherapy alone, but patients were</br>subdivided according to their level of plasma DHA. The two groups were approximately</br>equal with respect to all major prognostic variables. Median survival for the high DHA</br>patients was 34 months, vs. 18 months for the low-DHA patients.</br></br>A second clinical trial presented 2200 mg of EPA plus 240 mg of DHA to patients with</br>advanced non small cell lung cancer (245). Patients either received only the standard of</br>care of chemotherapy, or the same treatment in combination with daily fish oil. Response</br>rate (tumor regressions) was 60% in the fish oil group and 26% in those receiving only</br>the standard of care. One-year survival was 60% in the fish oil group versus 39% in those</br>receiving only chemotherapy. Chemotherapy toxicity was also decreased in those using</br>fish oil." contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.

Loading comments...