The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7187 p274-79
2 March 2002

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British Journal of Cancer (www.nature.com/bjc)

Prodrug for cancer revealed in wine

Researchers from the school of pharmacy, De Montfort University, Leicester, have identified how resveratrol, a natural product found in wine, is converted into a related compound, piceatannol, which has known anticancer activity.

They say that resveratrol has previously been shown to have cancer preventative properties and is classified as a phytoestrogen because it has a structure similar to that of oestradiol. They discovered that the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP1B1, found in tumours of the brain, breast, colon, lung and ovary in humans, and which catalyses oestradiol to 4-hydroxyoestradiol, also metabolised resveratrol to piceatannol. Piceatannol inhibits tyrosine kinases, enzymes involved in cell proliferation.

Professor Gerry Potter, lead researcher, and colleagues say that the discovery "validates the strategy of developing CYP1B1 activated prodrugs for cancer therapy which raises interesting opportunities for the treatment and prevention of cancer".

The study is published in the British Journal of Cancer 2002;86:774).