This week brought a major advance in understanding the effects of modified citrus pectin (MCP) on cancer cells. Scientists at Columbia University published a paper showing that MCP stops the growth of prostate cancer (PC) cells in the test tube. Most significantly this effect was seen in both hormone-dependent and hormone-independent forms of the disease. There are very few treatments for hormone- independent PC, and so a report of likely benefit from a simple nutritional agent is highly significant.

Dr. Jun Yan and Dr. Aaron Katz tested two versions of MCP, PectaSol and PectaSol-C, both invented by Dr. Isaac Eliaz. In general, the new form of product outperformed the earlier version. The authors looked at apoptosis (the most prevalent form of programmed cell death) as well as at the inhibition of cell growth. A one percent solution of PectaSol-C was toxic to five cell lines. After four days of treatment, the total destruction of cancer cells ranged from 23.0 to 52.2 percent. The authors concluded that PectaSol and PectaSol-C both inhibited cell proliferation and apoptosis in prostate cancer cell lines.

What Is Pectin?

Pectin is commonly used as a jelling agent in foods, such as jams and jellies. Chemically, it is a complex carbohydrate and a soluble form of fiber. Food-grade pectin is not digested by humans. However, in PectaSol and PectaSol-C, citrus pectin is made absorbable by decreasing its molecular weight through acidity, temperature and enzymatic degradation. As a result, MCP dissolves in water and is far better utilized by the human body than is ordinary pectin. MCP contains galactose, which has been shown to suppress cancer metastases. In patients, MCP increases the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time. Oral intake of MCP also reduces lung metastases in rats with prostate cancer. According to the authors, "MCP can act as a potent agent for the treatment of cancer." Further clinical and basic science research, the authors conclude, is now warranted.

--Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D.

References:

Guess BW, Scholz MC, Strum SB, et al. Modified citrus pectin (MCP) increases the prostate-specific antigen doubling time in men with prostate cancer: a phase II pilot study. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2003;6(4):301-304.

Huang Z, Liu H. [Expression of galectin-3 in liver metastasis of colon cancer and the inhibitory effect of modified citrus pectin]. Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2008;28(8):1358-1361.

Jackson CL, Dreaden TM, Theobald LK, et al. Pectin induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells: correlation of apoptotic function with pectin structure. Glycobiology. 2007;17(8):805-819.

Liu H, Huang Z, Yang G, Lu W, Yu N. Inhibitory effect of modified citrus pectin on liver metastases in a mouse colon cancer model. World J. Gastroenterol. 2008;14(48):7386-7391.

Yan J, Katz AE. PectaSol-C Modified Citrus Pectin Induces Apoptosis and Inhibition of Proliferation in Human and Mouse Androgen-Dependent and -Independent Prostate Cancer Cells. Integr Cancer Ther. 2010. Available at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20462856 [Accessed May 14, 2010].

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