British scientists are launching a large trial to determine if a chemical found in wine, red grapes, as well as blueberries, raspberries and peanuts, could help to prevent bowel cancer from spreading.
Previous research found purified resveratrol could hinder the growth of cancer cells in small doses.
Now, researchers are recruiting 1 300 patients for the “unique experiment” across 60 locations in England and Wales over the next few years in one of the biggest ever studies in to preventative therapeutics.
Experts say it could have big implications for people at risk of the disease, reports Daily Mail.
The study will recruit people aged between 50 and 73 found to have bowel polyps when screened as part of the NHS bowel screening programme.
Polyps are small growths that are usually not serious but can develop into cancer if left untreated.
The polyps will be removed, with patients given either aspirin by itself or a combination of aspirin and metformin, for the main trial. Others will take purified resveratrol or a placebo as part of a sub-study.
Those in the aspirin and metformin groups will take the drugs daily for three years, while those on resveratrol or the placebo will take it for one year.
All patients will then be given a colonoscopy to determine if the polyps have started growing again.
Professor Karen Brown, of the University of Leicester, said: “This is a unique experiment to see how drugs could stop the polyps from growing, and could have big implications for how we prevent bowel cancer in people who are most likely to develop the disease as they get older.
“Screening has made huge progress in picking up bowel cancers in those most at risk, but to improve outcomes further, we need to prevent these from emerging in the first place.”
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, with an estimated 44 000 people each year – or about 120 a day – diagnosed with the disease.
Dr Iain Foulkes, executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, which is funding the trial, said: “The Colo-Prevent trial, which is one of the biggest ever into therapeutic prevention in the UK, opens the door to a new era of cancer research.”
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Warning that thousands in UK may die early from bowel cancer
UK review recommends earlier bowel cancer screening
Young adults missing colorectal cancer symptoms – US review of 25m adults