Australian Researches Find

[Scarecrow Man]

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australian scientists have discovered pineapple molecules can act as powerful anti-cancer agents and said the research could lead to a new class of cancer-fighting drugs.

Scientists at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) said their work centred on two molecules from bromelaine, an extract derived from crushed pineapple stems that is used to tenderise meat, clarify beers and tan hides.

One of the molecules, CCZ, stimulates the body's immune system to target and kill cancer cells, the other, CCS, blocks a protein called Ras, which is defective in 30 percent of all cancers.

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[-pops-]

Not to put a downer on this - I hope it is successful but it is only one of many "breakthroughs" that are announced with almost monotonous regularity only to disappear almost without trace a few days later.

Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme and shares much in common with papain (from the papaya fruit) and numerous other similar enzymes derived from botanical, microbial and animal sources. Many have been tested for all sorts medical uses but few have shown any real advantages over other treatments. I suspect it will be the same with this.

Bromelain has already been used in medicine for the dissolution of haematoma, especially in sports like boxing to relieve black eyes and such like. Papain has been similarly used. They aren't used nowadays though.

[Scarecrow Man]

Natural healing is much better than artificial. For example, some fruit and 5 glasses of water is what I use for headaches. I find it works better than aspirin or tylenol.

I realize this is not a "cure" for cancer, and just because QIMR said pineapples are good for cancer doesn't make it so. But, this is another step in the battle. Just think, the more we know about cancer, the better of a chance we have to fight it.

[andsome]

Eat plenty of fruit in any case.

[-pops-]

I agree that natural medication should be used as far as possible. The big pharma companies agree as well - which is why they invest billions of $$$$ (££££, €€€€ or ¥¥¥¥) researching the macro and micro biomass in search of novel drugs. Even today, the majority of drugs in the world's pharmacopœiæ are natural; synthetic copies of the natural or can trace their origins very easily to a natural source. Synthetic versions are used because the natural source is insufficient to cope with the demand and the last category (that can traces its origins to a natural source) is to reduce undesirable side effects or to potentiate the action of the natural material.

I live a heavily medicated life now and of the thirteen drugs I take to help me stay alive, six of them have an easily traceable natural origin. If you separate the components of the multivitamins I take then the number of natural-derived materials inreases enormously.

It's perhaps unfortunate that you selected aspirin in your suggestions of artificial healers. The reason that Bayer produced this derivative of the naturally occuring salicylic acid was in an attempt to reduce gastric irritation (and to make enormous amounts of money from patent rights :) ).

I entirely agree that the more we know about cancer, the better for all of us. The point of my first reply was to warn off any thoughts that pineapples are the "big breakthrough" that everyone is looking for.

For interest and information, my elder son is heavily involved in work in cancer, particularly ovarian and breast cancer. A particular specialisation is breast cancer in men which, for some reason is becoming increasingly common.

Edit

I seem to have gone into lecture/author mode in some of the above - apologies.

[artist]

I seem to have gone into lecture/author mode in some of the above - apologies.

No problem - the more info the better, I think. :)

[-pops-]

I've been asked to put a rider on to my comments about breast cancer in men.

1. It is a very rare disease but, becoming more common due to factors as yet unknown. Several possiblities are being investigated.

2. The prognosis in male breast cancer is much worse than in females. This is not because the disease is necessarily more invasive but because:

i. Men don't believe they can get it so they think a breast lump something trivial.

ii. Men have a natural reluctance to seek medical help.

iii Men tend to have an ostrich-type "head in the sand attitude" and think it will "go away".

So, fellas, as well as regularly feeling your balls for lumps that shouldn't be there, feel your chest (and underarm area) as well. Any lump or unusual appearance or change in the nipple MUST be professionally looked at as a matter of urgency. It will most likely be something trivial but don't take the risk. Better to lose a bit of your chest than to lose your life. :)