Resveratrol for Patients With Colon Cancer

Resveratrol is purported to possess cancer preventive activity, especially for colon cancer,
though its mechanisms of action are not well defined. Resveratrol is found in the skin of
grapes and has anti-oxidative and pro-apoptotic effects on cancer cell lines in vitro. The
main dietary sources of resveratrol are grapes, grape products, red wine and small amounts
in mulberries. A prior report and compelling preliminary data from our laboratory suggest
that resveratrol modulates Wnt signaling, a signaling pathway which is activated in over 85%
of colon cancers. In this proposal, studies will be performed to define the actions of
resveratrol on the Wnt signaling pathway in a clinical trial in which patients with colon
cancer will receive treatment with resveratrol and correlative laboratory studies will
examine its effects directly on colon cancer and normal colonic mucosa. These studies will
provide data on the mechanisms of resveratrol action and provide a foundation for future
prevention trials, correlative studies and therapeutic clinical research with this agent.