Avemar Augments Breast Health

CHICAGOA fermented wheat germ extract (as Avemar, from American BioSciences) demonstrated greater tumor-inhibiting effects on estrogen-receptor positive (ER+) and estrogen-receptor negative (ER-) breast cancers than the leading cancer drug, Tamoxifen, according to research presented at the 2007 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). In the study, Andras Telekes, M.D., Ph.D., implanted ER+ and ER- breast cancer cell lines from humans and mice into female mice and monitored tumor growth. Animals were treated with Avemar alone; with a monotherapy of a breast cancer drugTamoxifen, Exemestane or Anastrozole; or a monotherapy plus Avemar. In the mouse-derived ER+ cell line, Avemar inhibited growth by 50 percent compared to controls; Exemestane inhibited growth by 46.7 percent, Tamoxifen by 34 percent and Anastrozole by 29.3 percent. Against the human ER+ cell line, Avemar inhibited growth by 49 percent; Tamoxifen, 42 percent; Exemestane, 25 percent; and Anastrazole, 25 percent. The effect of each monotherapy was enhanced by 5 to 10 percent when combined with Avemar. Researchers noted the best result was obtained from the combination of Exemestane and Avemar, inhibiting both the mouse and human derived ER+ breast tumors by 60 percent. The researchers concluded: This suggests the mechanisms of action by which Avemar inhibits growth in breast tumors are the same mechanisms as those that inhibited tumor growth in multiple other cell lines and tumor types against which the extract has been tested (other breast, lung, pancreatic, colon, melanoma, leukemia, and pancreatic cancers).