Antioxidants May Be Harmful in Patients With Melanoma

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

Antioxidants may double the rate of metastasis in malignant melanoma, a study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine has shown.

Because melanoma cells are especially sensitive to free radicals, which can be neutralized by antioxidants, and the cells can be exposed to antioxidants through means other than diet, researchers from Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden sought to evaluate the effect of antioxidants on cell cultures from patients with malignant melanoma.

The researchers found that although antioxidants protect healthy cells from free radicals that can potentially transform them into malignancies, they may also protect the tumor.

Results showed that the antioxidant enhanced the tumor’s ability to metastasize; however, the primary melanoma tumor was unaffected.

“Previous research as Sahlgrenska Academy has indicated that cancer patients are particularly prone to take supplements containing antioxidants.

Our current research combined with information from large clinical trials with antioxidants suggest that people who have been recently diagnosed with cancer should avoid supplements,” the authors conclude.