Pomegranates Fuel Tumor-Fighting Cells

Ahmet Misirligul

Urolithin A, a metabolite of ellagitannins in pomegranates, boosts immune cells’ ability to combat tumors by inducing a process known as mitophagy.

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Urolithin A (UA) has emerged as a powerhouse player in the fight against cancer, as it may naturally boost tumor-fighting immune cells.
• UA is a metabolite of ellagitannins in pomegranates that has anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects.
• UA “recycles and renews mitochondria” by inducing a biological pathway known as mitophagy—the process of cleaning out your mitochondria, allowing them to function at their best. This changes T cells’ genetic program, making them more able to fight tumors.
• In an upcoming clinical trial, UA will be used in people with colorectal cancer to determine its effectiveness.

Globally, colorectal cancer is the third most-diagnosed cancer, with a high mortality rate in advanced stages. One reason for its lethal effects is the ability of tissue around the tumor—or the tumor microenvironment—to suppress tumor-fighting immune cells. With the body’s immune T cells restricted, the tumor is able to grow and spread. (1)