New research has found that manuka honey could potentially be an alternative, natural option for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer – particularly estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, the most common subtype of breast cancer, which accounts for around 70-80% of all breast cancers.
Manuka Honey in the Fight Against Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. It affects around one in 10 women. Women are often diagnosed with the disease at menopausal age or shortly after the menopause. Many factors can contribute to the development of the disease, which is also affecting more and more young women, which is why extensive research in this area is so important. A new study led by researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center showed the benefits of manuka honey in the fight against estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. Manuka is a very special type of honey that is used in many different areas of natural medicine.
In preclinical experiments, the researchers found that:
- Manuka honey significantly reduced tumor growth by 84% in mice with ER-positive breast cancer cells, without affecting normal breast cells or causing major side effects.
- Higher concentrations of manuka honey led to a greater reduction in cancer cell growth.
- Manuka honey reduced the levels of signaling pathways that are upregulated in cancer, such as AMPK/AKT/mTOR and STAT3, which are involved in tumor cell growth and survival.
- Manuka honey reduced the proliferation of cancer cells but did not affect the growth of normal human breast epithelial cells, suggesting that it may target cancer cells.
- Manuka honey induced apoptosis or cell death of breast cancer cells.
- Manuka honey enhances the effectiveness of existing treatments, such as tamoxifen, a commonly used anti-estrogen in the treatment of ER-positive breast cancer, when used together.
Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties in Honey Have Anticancer Potential
There is an urgent need for alternative treatments to help prevent the development of endocrine resistance and improve long-term survival in breast cancer. Endocrine resistance is a major factor contributing to breast cancer being the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. New research has shown that manuka honey, long known for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, is also rich in compounds such as flavonoids, phytochemicals, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, amino acids and minerals. These compounds have demonstrated their anticancer potential at the molecular level by inhibiting the signaling pathways activated in cancer that promote the proliferation, growth and metastasis of tumor cells. Researchers hypothesize that one of the mechanisms of action of Manuka honey is to block estrogen receptors, making it a potentially effective nutraceutical against hormone-sensitive breast cancer.
To understand the potential of manuka honey as a natural treatment for breast cancer, the research team conducted a series of experiments on mice as well as ER-positive MCF-7 and triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines, which represent two of the most common types of breast cancer. In these models, oral administration of manuka honey resulted in a significant reduction in tumor growth compared to control groups. This significant inhibition of tumor growth underscores the potential efficacy of honey as a cancer prevention or treatment agent. The results suggest that manuka honey could potentially be developed as a natural adjunct or even stand-alone treatment for ER-positive breast cancer, particularly for patients who do not respond to traditional therapies.
According to Dr. Diana Marquez-Garban, associate professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and lead author of the study, these findings offer hope for the development of a natural, less toxic alternative to traditional chemotherapy. Although more research is needed to fully understand the benefits of natural compounds in cancer therapy, this study provides a solid foundation for further research in this area.