Seaweed extract gives hope for lymphoma treatment
POSTED March 13, 2010 - 11:44 | POSTED BY Neha Jindal
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on March 13, 2010 - 12:02
Researchers at Hashemite University, Jordan, University of California, Berkeley and Royal Hobart Hospital, Australia established that seaweed--multi-cellular marine algae, has various mineral compounds called lignans which shield against cancer and provide hope for lymphoma cancer.
Lymphoma is characterized into Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s types.
Lead researcher, Mohammad Irhimeh, assistant professor of hematology, oncology and stem cells, Hashemite University said, “Some forms of B-cell lymphoma are especially resistant to standard treatment, and thus new therapies are needed.”
Details of the study
For the research, the team used a viable seaweed extract to cure B-cell group lymphoma.
B-cell lymphoma, which may either have a slow or aggressive growth, is a type of cancer originating in B-cells in the immune system. This type of cancer is more often seen in grown-ups and comprises 80 to 90 percent of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases.
It is known to develop due to inherent reasons but may also initiate owing to environmental factors, immunodeficiency, viruses, and connective tissue disorders.
After administering the cure, researchers discovered that the seaweed extract had a tendency to hinder the enlargement of lymphoma cells, simultaneously setting healthy cells apart.
It was also established that there was a noteworthy prototype movement in the genes associated with cell death in lymphoma.
Seaweed and lymphoma
Many genuses of brown seaweeds contain fucoidan--a sulfated polysaccharide located in the cell walls--which has antitumor properties and thwarts the growth of new blood vessels which cultivate cancer cells.
“Seaweed extracts hold promise of a new treatment approach for the tens of thousands of people who have or who will be diagnosed with lymphoma,” stated the researchers.
The study was presented at the AACR Dead Sea International Conference on Advances in Cancer Research.
Symptoms of lymphoma
Lymphoma can be identified with bloated lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin; along with baffling weight loss, night sweats, exhaustion, high fever, pain or inflation in the abdomen, chest pain or constant cough, and breathing problems.
The tumor can be detected with the help of physical examinations, blood tests, and lymph tissue biopsy.
The treatment varies with cancer stage and may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplantation for aggressive cancer types.
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