R+CU'S CANCER TREATMENT PROMISE: HOPE OR HYPE?

Tata Memorial Center’s proposed cancer pill claims to tackle recurrence, but human trials are needed for confirmation, says the author.

- Dr M Balasubramanyam, PhD, FAMS, MNASc, FAPASc, FASCh

What can be termed a medical breakthrough, the researchers at the Tata Memorial Center of Mumbai have developed a new, affordable cancer treatment that can prevent cancer from recurring. The promising new cancer treatment is in the form of a ₹100 prooxidant tablet containing resveratrol and copper (R+Cu). This tablet targets a potential cause of cancer recurrence: cell fragments, cell-free chromatin particles (cfChPs), released by dying cancer cells that can trigger cancer in healthy cells. Containing resveratrol and copper, R+Cu generates oxygen radicals in the stomach that enter the bloodstream and destroy these cfChPs.

In pre-clinical trials on rats, R+Cu showed a 50 percent reduction in chemotherapy and radiation side effects. While early results suggest a 30 percent effectiveness in preventing cancer recurrence, human trials for prevention are still needed. This breakthrough offers hope for improved cancer treatment affordability and reduced patient burden. The tablet awaits approval from India’s food safety agency and could be available for human clinical trials by June-July 2024 if successful. 

EXAMINING THE RESEARCH