ALEXANDRIA, Egypt—Combining Epirubicin nanoparticles with tocotrienols may increase anti-tumor activity in hepatocellular carcinoma, which is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. (European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics. 2014 May; online. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2014.016)
Hoda Saad and colleagues in the department of pharmacy at the Medical Research Institute in Alexandria, Egypt, found Epirubicin nanoparticles combined with tocotrienols injected into mice with hepatocellular carcinoma resulted in a significantly improved tumor responses and markedly less cardiotoxicity. The study used the DeltaGold® branded tocopherol-free annatto tocotrienol ingredient supplied by American River Nutrition.
Tocotrienols specifically demonstrated both anti-tumor activity and higher protection against oxidative stress and inflammation induced by Epirubicin in the heart when compared to the Epirubicin nanoparticle alone.
A study published earlier this year suggests tocotrienols also may protect the gastrointestinal tract.