Dark cherry compounds may slow the spread of aggressive breast cancer

Researchers at Texas A&M University have found that anthocyanins—natural pigments responsible for the deep red color of dark sweet cherries—may inhibit the growth and spread of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The study, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, was conducted using mouse models. TNBC is one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer. Its cells lack estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and the HER2 protein, which are the primary targets for standard therapies. This absence of markers limits treatment options and increases the risk of rapid cell division and metastasis to the brain and lungs. The study focused on how anthocyanins affect metastasis, the primary cause of mortality in cancer patients. Researchers divided mice into four groups: a control group, a group receiving anthocyanins before tumor implantation, a group receiving chemotherapy (doxorubicin) after tumor development, and a group receiving a combination of both.