Cranberry Juice And Ovarian Cancer

Close to 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed in the United States in 2010, according to the National Cancer Institute, with almost 14,000 deaths. Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death among women, and although progress is being made in finding new treatments, it's still a difficult cancer to detect in its early stages. Dietary aids such as cranberry juice may not be able to cure ovarian cancer, but cranberry has potential to help prevent the disease and make treatments more effective.

Identification

When cancer forms in your ovaries, the symptoms are so mild that the cancer usually goes undetected until it has spread to the pelvis and abdomen, one reason ovarian cancer has such a high death rate. Symptoms also mimic other conditions, and can include abdominal or pelvic pain, pressure, fullness, swelling or bloating; persistent indigestion; changes in bowel or bladder habits; loss of appetite; lack of energy; and low back pain. Treatment usually involves a combination of surgery and chemotherapy.

Cranberry Benefits

Cranberry is used by many women to prevent urinary tract infections, a benefit scientists believe is due to compounds in cranberries called proanthocyanadins that prevent bacteria from sticking to cells in the bladder. Proanthocyanadins, or PACs, belong to a class of polyphenol antioxidants that help keep harmful free radicals from damaging cells and DNA. Cranberries also contain other beneficial polyphenols, including anthocyanidins, flavonols and phenolic acids. These compounds have been studied for their effects on various cancers, with PACs in particular showing promise to promote cancer cell death.

Cancer Prevention

A study published in August 2009 in "Phytotherapy Research" tested cranberry PACs on human ovarian, neuroblastoma and prostate cancer cell lines in the lab. The ovarian SKOV-3 cell line was chosen because it is a type of tumor cell derived from a highly malignant ovarian cancer that is drug-resistant. The cranberry PAC extracts reduced cancer cell proliferation and demonstrated the ability to inhibit cancer cell growth in vitro.

Cancer Treatment

Platinum drugs are frequently used in chemotherapy protocols to treat ovarian cancer, but in some cases the tumors become resistant to the drugs. In research reported at the American Chemical Society meeting in August 2007, scientists reported that human ovarian cancer cells resistant to platinum became up to six times more responsive to the drugs after exposure to cranberry juice extracts, compared with cells that were not exposed to the compounds.

Considerations

Although cranberry juice is generally recognized as safe, large amounts may cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. If you're taking blood thinners such as Coumadin, high doses of cranberry extract may increase your risk for bleeding. There is some evidence that cranberry juice may play a role in the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones, although evidence is mixed. If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or any other medical condition, check with your doctor before consuming cranberry juice or its extracts.