Gossypol helps in chemotherapy of neck and head cancer.

Gossypol, a compound present in cottonseed has been found be increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy for neck and head cancer patients. This could prove beneficial in cancer treatment and help patients worldwide.

Shaomeng Wang, Ph.D., co-director of the Molecular Therapeutics Program at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Centre, discovered gossypol, a compound derived from a component of Chinese medicine.

"Patients really benefit long-term by avoiding surgery because the side effects of surgery for head and neck cancer can be particularly difficult for patients. It affects how you talk, how you swallow and how you breathe," says study author Carol Bradford, M.D., professor of otolaryngology at the U-M Medical School and co-director of the Head and Neck Oncology Program at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Centre.

Gossypol, regulates the protein Bcl-xL which is over expressed in cancer cells, as a result the cells are able to survive. Two different cell lines were cultured in the lab and results observed. On the basis of the results the scientists have made this revelation.

Source: Molecular Cancer Therapeutics journal, July issue