Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jul 22, 2025 5 hours, 23 minutes ago
Medical News: High Amino Acid Diet Slows Colon Cancer in Lab and Mice
A groundbreaking new study has revealed that a diet rich in essential amino acids (EAAs) can effectively slow down the growth of human colon cancer cells both in laboratory settings and in live animal models. The research, conducted by scientists from the University of Brescia in Italy, Ruaha Catholic University in Tanzania, Holy Cross Medical Center in the United States, and Nutri-Research in Milan, tested how increased intake of EAAs could influence tumor growth and survival.
Essential Amino Acid Diet Found to Starve Colon Tumors
This
Medical News report details that the team used a special blend of free EAAs to treat colon cancer cells known as HCT116, both in petri dishes and in mice. The results were clear: the amino acid mix triggered two key processes—apoptosis (programmed cell death) and autophagy (cellular self-cleaning)—that led to a significant reduction in cancer cell survival and tumor size.
Study Details How Cancer Cells Respond to EAA Treatment
In vitro, even a small 0.5% concentration of EAAs led to about 10% of the cancer cells dying within 48 hours. When the dose was increased to 1% and the time extended to 72 hours, more than half the cancer cells had died. In contrast, non-essential amino acids (NEAAs) had the opposite effect, actually helping the tumor cells grow.
The team also observed a rise in markers associated with apoptosis and autophagy under the microscope. HCT116 cells treated with the EAA blend began to show signs of stress inside the endoplasmic reticulum—a part of the cell involved in protein production—and experienced disruptions in their ability to continue growing and dividing.
In the in vivo part of the study, researchers injected colon cancer cells into two groups of mice. One group was fed a standard diet while the other received an EAA-rich diet. Tumors in the EAA-fed group were up to 50% smaller in mass and volume compared to those on the standard diet. Additionally, the EAA-fed mice retained more muscle mass and had healthier fat stores, which are often depleted in cancer patients due to cachexia.
Tumor Starvation Strategy Shows Promise
Further analysis of the tumors revealed that the EAA diet not only reduced tumor size but also cut down on inflammation, blood vessel growth within the tumors, and improved overall tissue structure. Markers for cellular stress (GRP78) and cell death (caspase-3) were significantly higher in tumors from the EAA-fed group, indicating that the cancer cells were undergoing a greater level of breakdown.
Even in mice injected with cancer cells into their abdominal cavity—a more aggressive cancer model—the EAA-rich diet was able to limit the number and size of tumors that developed.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that a diet rich in essential amino acids could become a powerful tool in managing colon cancer. By disrupting the nutrient balance tumor cells rel
y on and preserving healthy tissues, such dietary interventions may improve the lives of patients when used alongside standard therapies. These results open the door to future human studies that could confirm whether similar effects can be achieved in clinical settings.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed International Journal of Molecular Sciences
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/14/7014
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/herbs-and-phytochemicals-bamboo-leaf-extract-and-colon-cancer
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