Common supplements can charge cancer treatments

“We were surprised when we found that Ziaksanthin, who is already known for its role in eye health, has a completely new function in promoting anti -tumor immunity,” said Jing Chen, PhD, a distinguished professor of distinguished service in the field of medicine. “Our study showed that simple nutrients can complete and enhance advanced cancer treatments such as immunotherapy.”

How do these nutrients work?

The study depends on years of work by the Chen Laboratory to better understand how nutrients affect the immune system. By examining a large nutritional library of food, the team selects the zexanthin as a compound that directly enhances the activity of the CD8+ T cells, a decisive type of immune cells that kill cancer cells. These cells depend on a molecular structure called TCR receptors to identify and destroy abnormal cells.

The researchers found that xnaxinhin fixes and strengthens the composition of the TCR complex on the CD8+ T cells when interacting with cancer cells. This, in turn, leads to an increase in strong signals within cells that enhance the activation of T cells, the production of cytokin, and the ability to kill a tumor.

Zecaxanthin improves the effects of immunotherapy

In mouse models, nutritional supplements are slowed with zeaxanthin tumor growth. More importantly, when it is combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors – a type of immunotherapy that has transformed cancer in recent years – xxanthin enhances anti -tumor effects significantly compared to immunotherapy alone.

To expand the results, the researchers tested the human T cells designed to identify specific antigens and found that the treatment of zixenathene improved the ability of these cells to kill skin cancer, multi -myeloma tumor, and lacquest in laboratory experiments.

“Our data shows that xaxanthin improves both the responses of normal and engineering cells, indicating high translation capabilities for patients who are under immune treatments,” said Chen.

A safe and accessible candidate

Zeaxanthin is sold as an annex without a prescription for eye health, and is naturally found in vegetables such as orange, spinach and turnip. It is inexpensive, widely available and well tolerant, and most importantly, its safety profile is known – which means that it can be safely tested as an auxiliary factor in cancer treatments.

The study also enhances the importance of a balanced diet. In their previous research, the Chen Group discovered that the TVA, which is a fatty acid derived from dairy and meat, also enhances the activity of T-cells-but through a different mechanism. The results indicate that the nutrients of plant and animal sources may provide complementary benefits for immunodeficiency.

Clinical applications for zeaxanthin

Although the results are promising, the researchers emphasize that the work is still at an early stage. Most of the results come from laboratory experiments and animal studies. Thus, clinical trials will be needed to determine whether nutritional supplements can improve the results of cancer patients.

“The results we find open a new field of food immunity looking for how the specific food ingredients interact with the immune system at the molecular level,” Chen said. “With more research, we may discover natural compounds that make cancer treatments today more effective and accessible.”

Study, “Zeaxanthin enhances the function of CD8+ respondents and the effectiveness of immunotherapyand“It was supported by the grants of the National Institutes of Health, the Ludwig Center at the University of Chicago, and the Harburvio gift fund.

Among the additional authors are Frea Zhang, Jicheng Lee, Rokang Chang, Jiao To, Cheng Sheh, Takimasa Tsuji, Hardic Shah, Matthew Ross, Ruido Liu, Jonko Matsaki, Anna Tabor, Kelly Xue, Shongo Yin, Hamid R. Yu-resisted, Marc Bissonnette, Jun Huang, Chuan He, Kunle Odunsi, and Hao Fan from the University of Chicago; Fatima Chaudhry from the University of Depol, Chicago; Yuancheng Li and HUI MAO from the University of Imori University College, Atlanta; Lee Dong from the South West Texas Medical Center, Dallas; Soo was narrated from the Beckman Research Institute, the city of Amal, Durati, and California.