New Compound Protects Against Certain Cancers Researchers identified a new compound called CDDO-Im that protects against the development of liver cancer in laboratory animals. The compound stimulates the enzymes that remove toxic substances from the cells and increases the cells' resistance to cancer-causing toxins. In a two-year study, investigators from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore studied the effectiveness of low doses of CDDO-Im in preventing cancers in laboratory rats. They believe the compound may be particularly effective in preventing cancers with a strong inflammatory component, such as liver, colon, prostate and gastric cancers. "This compound has a much greater effect at a far lower dose than any other compound currently used for preventing aflatoxin-induced cancer in humans," says Thomas Kensler, Ph.D., a cancer biologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The synthetic compound is derived from oleanolic acid -- a naturally occurring substance found in plants all over the world. Other oleanolic derivatives show marked anti-tumor activity in both animals and humans. Like those other compounds, CDDO-Im also has strong anti-inflammatory properties, making it ideally suited to prevent certain cancers. Due to the compound's ability to stimulate the body's cancer-fighting capabilities at such low doses, Kensler believes CDDO-Im is an excellent candidate for cancer prevention use in humans. "If this compound can produce such a potent and dramatic reduction in the number of pre-cancerous growths, it should have an equally dramatic impact on the development of actual cancers," he says. Along with serving as a valuable tool in the development of new cancer prevention interventions, CDDO-Im may offer protection in a wide range of other disease settings, including neurodegenerative disease, asthma and emphysema. This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/. SOURCE: Cancer Research, 2006;66:1-7 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.