Patient with Metastatic Breast Cancer Achieves Stable Disease for 5 Years on Graviola and Xeloda after Progressing on Multiple Lines of Therapy

Damien Mikael  Hansra; Orlando  Silva; Ashwin  Mehta; Eugene  Ahn

doi:10.4236/abcr.2014.33012

Damien Mikael Hansra, Orlando Silva, Ashwin Mehta, Eugene Ahn

Abstract: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in women and is second to lung cancer in terms of cancer mortality. Treatment of BC remains a challenge as current therapies are limited by toxicity and drug resistance. Graviola (Annona muricata) is a tree that grows in the tropics of North and South America. Traditionally, the leaves and stems from the graviola tree have been used for a wide range of human diseases including cancer. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate anticancer activity in BC however clinical studies are lacking. We present the first case demonstrating clinical benefit without side effects using graviola in a patient with BC whose disease was refractory to multiple lines of chemotherapy including anthracyclines and taxanes.

Keywords: Breast Cancer, Graviola, Therapy

Cite this paper: Hansra, D. , Silva, O. , Mehta, A. and Ahn, E. (2014) Patient with Metastatic Breast Cancer Achieves Stable Disease for 5 Years on Graviola and Xeloda after Progressing on Multiple Lines of Therapy. Advances in Breast Cancer Research, 3, 84-87. doi: 10.4236/abcr.2014.33012.

References

[1] American Cancer Society (2012) Cancer Facts and Figures 2012. Atlanta GACS.

[2] Siegel, R., Ward, E., Brawley, O. and Jemal, A. (2011) Cancer Statistics 2011: The Impact of Eliminating Socioeconomic and Racial Disparities on Premature Cancer Deaths. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 61, 212-236. http://dx.doi.org/10.3322/caac.20121

[3] Chakraborty, S., Baine, M.J., Sasson, A.R. and Batra, S.K. (2011) Current Status of Molecular Markers for Early Detection of Sporadic Pancreatic Cancer. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA), 1815, 44-64

[4] Duffy, C. and Cyr, M. (2003) Phytoestrogens: Potential Benefits and Implications for Breast Cancer Survivors. Journal of Women’s Health, 12, 617-631.

[5] Mukhtar, H. and Ahmad, N. (2000) Tea Polyphenols: Prevention of Cancer and Optimizing Health. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 71, 1698-1702.

[6] Taylor, L. (2002) Technical Data Report for Graviola: Annona muricata. Sage Press, Inc., Herbal Secrets of the Rainforest second ed.

[7] Adewole, S.O. and Caxton-Martins, E.A. (2006) Morphological Changes and Hypoglycemic Effects of Annona muricata Linn. (Annonaceae) Leaf Aqueous Extract on Pancreatic B-Cells of Streptozotocin-Treated Diabetic Rats. African Journal of Biomedical Research, 9, 173-187.

[8] Bajetta, E., Procopio, G., Celio, L., et al. (2005) Safety and Efficacy of Two Different Doses of Capecitabine in the Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer in the Treatment of Advanced Breast Cancer in Older Women. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 23, 2155-2161.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2005.02.167

[9] Oberlies, N.H., Jones, J.L., Corbett, T.H., Fotopoulos, S.S. and McLaughlin, J.L. (1995) Tumor Cell Growth Inhibition by Several Annonaceous Acetogenins in an in vitro Disk Diffusion Assay. Cancer Letters, 96, 55-62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-3835(95)92759-7

[10] McLaughlin, J.L. (2008) Paw Paw and Cancer: Annonaceous Acetogenins from Discovery to Commercial Products. Journal of Natural Products, 71, 1311-1321.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np800191t

[11] Tormo, J.R., Royo, I., Gallardo, T., Zafra-Polo, M.C., Hernandez, P., Cortes, D. and Pelaez, F. (2003) In Vitro Antitumor Structure-Activity Relationships of Threo/Trans/Threo Mono-Tetrahydrofuranicacetogenins: Correlations with Their Inhibition of Mitochondrial Complex I. Oncology Research, 14, 147-154.

[12] Chang, F.R. and Wu, Y.C. (2001) Novel Cytotoxic Annonaceous Acetogenins from Annona muricata. Journal of Natural Products, 64, 925-931. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np010035s

[13] Liaw, C.C., Chang, F.R., Lin, C.Y., Chou, C.J., Chiu, H.F., Wu, M.J. and Wu, Y.C. (2002) New Cytotoxic Monotetrahydrofuran Annonaceous Acetogenins from Annona muricata. Journal of Natural Products, 65, 470-475. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np0105578

[14] Oberlies, H.N., Chang, C.J. and McLaughlin, J.L. (1997) Structure-Activity Relationships of Diverse Annonaceous Acetogenins against Multidrug Resistant Human Mammary Adenocarcinomas (MCF-7/Adr) Cells. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 40, 2102-2106. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jm9700169

[15] Torres, M.P., et al. (2012) Graviola: A Novel Promising Natural Derived Drug That Inhibits Tumorgenicity and Metastasis of Pancreatic Cancer Cells in Vitro and in Vivo through Altering Cell Metabolism. Cancer Letters, 323, 29-40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2012.03.031

[16] Yumin, D., Hogan, S., Schmelz, E.M., Young, H.J., Canning, C. and Zhou, K. (2011) Selective Growth Inhibition of Human Breast Cancer Cells by Graviola Fruit Extract in Vitro and in Vivo Involving Downregulation of EGFR Expression. Nutrition and Cancer, 63, 795-801.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2011.563027

[17] Lannuzel, A., Michel, P.P., Caparros-Lefebvre, D., Abaul, J., Hocquemiller, R. and Ruberg, M. (2002) Toxicity of Annonaceae for Dopaminergic Neurons: Potential Role in Atypical Parkinsonism in Guadeloupe. Movement Disorders, 17, 84-90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mds.1246