A novel study suggests that nutrients found in carrot and sweet potatoes may prove to be a crucial weapon against breast cancer in early stage of the disease. The derivative of vitamin A known as retinoic acid revitalizes the skin and its weak edition is used in preparation of of anti-wrinkle face creams.
The chemical affects the growth of cell, survival of cell and propagation of cell. Until now various studies on its potentials as a cancer therapy have proved inconclusive. The recent lab study has revealed that retinoic acid reverses early alteration in cells that escort to breast cancer.
But it is ineffective after certain stage of cancer growth has been passed. The study spots the way to developing promising cancer treatments based on retinoic acid or additional chemicals with an analogous biological effect. The US research team pinpointed the key role played by a gene that triggers anti-cancer properties of retinoic acid.
The gene codes for a receptor molecule known as RAR-beta that sets free a cascade of biological effects when it comes into contact with retinoic acid. According to study author Dr Sandra Fernandez, from Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, they found that the RAR-beta gene was active in the two earliest stages of cancer.
But, it was silenced in the final two stages. These alterations in gene activation were caused by a type of chemical modification known as methylation, which engrosses the addition of a methyl group to DNA, added Dr Fernandez.