Sweet cure? Sugar substitute may give cancer a run for its money, study hints
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the world’s deadliest cancers, with a five-year survival rate below 10%. Now, new research suggests that fermented stevia leaf extract could offer hope as a potential treatment.
Researchers found that stevia, a plant commonly used as a natural sweetener, may have increased anticancer properties after fermentation with the bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T. The study tested the extract’s ability to combat cancer cells and neutralize damaging molecules.
According to the findings, the fermented extract was more effective at killing pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1) than the non-fermented version, while showing minimal harm to healthy human kidney cells (HEK 293).
Further lab tests showed the fermented extract reduced cancer cell growth and migration. The main active ingredient was identified as chlorogenic acid methyl ester, found at a concentration of 374.4 micrograms per milliliter.
Fox News Digital spoke to a leading expert on pancreatic cancer. Dr. Paul Oberstein told the media outlet that researchers should proceed with caution with this new information.
“As the authors point out, the actual stevia plant does not seem to have any benefit for stopping cancer, so they had to use a chemical process to change the plant and make it stronger with a fermentation process,” he said.
Since the research was not performed on humans, Oberstein added, there’s still a lot that’s unknown about whether this will help patients.
Despite the concerns, the oncologist is hopeful.
“The study suggests that if the stevia can be changed in the lab, it may have an impact, so hopefully they will further test this and determine whether this effect happens when tested in people and if it doesn’t cause new side effects,” Oberstein said.
Dr. Kristen Arnold also weighed in to Fox News Digital: “As a pancreatic cancer community, we spend a lot of time and there’s a lot of ongoing effort into trying to find better modalities to treat this disease.”
“This is the process of how we discover new treatments — some of which turn out to be absolute game-changers and make dramatic changes in the lives of our patients,” Arnold said.
Back in February, a new experimental vaccine to treat pancreatic cancer showed promise in a phase 1 clinical trial. In a study published on Wednesday, Feb. 19, researchers with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center found the mRNA vaccine reduces the risk of pancreatic cancer returning after surgery.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
