Grape seeds: ripe for cancer chemoprevention

A wide variety of phytochemicals, mostly flavonoids or polyphenolics, have been shown to possess anticarcinogenic activities. Among these are the grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs), which are the active ingredients of grape seed extract (GSE). Substantial in vitro and preclinical in vivo studies have shown the chemopreventive efficacy of GSPs against various forms of cancers in different tumor models. In this issue of the journal, Derry and colleagues show that administration of GSE in the diet reduces azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in an A/J mouse model. The results of this innovative and comprehensive study indicate that inhibition of azoxymethane-induced colon cancer by dietary GSE is mediated through the induction of apoptosis that is associated with alterations in microRNA (miRNA) and cytokine expression profiles as well as β-catenin signaling. Notably, the demonstration that miRNA expression is affected by dietary GSE suggests a novel underlying mechanism for the chemopreventive action of GSE in colon cancer and, potentially, other cancers.