Vitamin A May Assist Breast Tumor Treatment

Vitamin A May Assist Breast Tumor Treatment

NEW YORK--When vitamin A supplementation is incorporated into cancer treatment, tumorsmay stop growing. In the May 17 issue of The Journal of the National Cancer Institute,researchers found that a gene (RAR-beta-2) that may suppress tumor growth is deactivatedin the early stages of breast cancer. The study found that retinoids, which are similar instructure to vitamin A, could "turn on" the gene again.

The researchers found that vitamin A supplementation proved beneficial in animals withcancer. However, human clinical trials will remain on hold--the levels of the drug used inthe study were too toxic for human consumption. For additional information, visit www.nci.nih.gov.