• Vitamin C protects cells’ DNA by trapping free radicals and inhibiting formation of carcinogens.
• Blueberry extract, anthocyanins and ellagic acid, and the urolithins that form from these nutrients, have been shown in vitro to decrease free radical damage to DNA (1) that can lead to cancer. They also cause apoptosis in mouth, breast, colon and prostate cancer cells. (2)
• Animal studies have shown that Blueberries decrease inflammation that causes esophageal cancer and pre-cancerous changes in the colon. Similar studies indicate blueberries decrease estrogen-induced breast cancer and DNA damage. The actual effect on the human colon and breast cancers has not been confirmed.
• In animal studies, an anti-oxidant called Pterostilbene, which is chemically related to resveratrol, causes apoptosis of lung, stomach, pancreatic and breast cancer cells. (2)
• The dietary fiber in blueberries reduces cells’ exposure to cancer-causing substances, and healthful gut bacteria use it to produce short-chain fatty acids that protect colon cells.

Perhaps the most impressive blueberry cancer study involved cancer stem cells. Researchers at the Taipei Medical University Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan demonstrated that radiation treatments actually enriched hepatoma (liver cancer) stem cells and increased their resistance to radiation, stemness gene expression, and their ability to multiply and invade other organs.

When the enhanced stem cells were treated with the blueberry anti-oxidant Pterostilbene it reduced their enrichment, prevented tumor sphere formation, reduced gene expression, and suppressed invasion and migration abilities. It also increased cancer stem cell apoptosis.

Researchers stated, “Based on our experimental data, pterostilbene could be used to prevent the enrichment of CD133(+) hepatoma CSCs (cancer stem cells) and should be considered for future clinical testing as a combined agent for HCC patients.” (3)