Top News in Family Medicine April 09 2019 (1 of 2)

A new study finds that capsaicin, the pungent compound in chili peppers, can successfully stop cancer cancer metastasis.

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is "by the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women" in the United States. The Society also estimates that 228,150 people will develop cancer and 142,670 people will die from the condition in 2019. Most deaths occur as a result of metastasizing cancer, or spreading, to distant parts of the body.

New research suggests that it can be a nutritional compound that can hinder this process of metastasis. Capsaicin, which is the chemical compound that gives chili peppers their pungent flavor, stopped lung cancer metastasis in rodents and cultured human cell lines.

Piyali Dasgupta, PhD, from the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in Huntington, WV, is the senior investigator of the new study. Jamie Friedman, PhD researcher in Dasgupta's lab, is the first author of the paper. Friedman and colleagues presented their findings at the American Society for Investigative Pathology annual meeting in Orlando, FL.

How capsaicin works against cancer

The researches tested for capsaicin in the cells of the human race, which is called "invasion."

Friedman and colleagues also reported that they had a greater incidence of metastatic cancer in their lungs compared to those who did not receive treatment.

Further cell experiments found that capsaicin stopped metastasis in lung cancer by blocking the activation of Src protein-a protein that is key in regulating the proliferation, survival, and motility of the cells. Friedman and colleagues conclude:

"Our results show that capsaicin directly interacts with Src and inhibits Src activation to suppress the metastasis of [lung cancer]. The results of our studies may foster the development of novel anti-metastatic therapies for human [lung cancer]. "

However, the researchers also note that they need to develop badog caps that would bypbad its side effects.

"We hope that one day capsaicin can be used in combination with other chemotherapeutics to treat a variety of lung cancers," Friedman says. "However, using gastrointestinal irritation, stomach cramps, and a burning sensation."

"Lung cancer and other cancers commonly metastasize to secondary locations like the brain, liver, or bone, making them difficult to treat," adds Friedman. "Our study suggests that the natural compound capsaicin from chili peppers could represent a novel therapy to fight metastasis in lung cancer patients."

This is not the first study of the health benefits of capsaicin. Previous research found that the compound can inhibit the development of triple-negative bad cancer cells and other studies suggests that it may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Finally, previous research has also suggested that the compound can extend our lifespan.