Two Vanderbilt researchers have isolated sugar compounds in breast milk that can relieve hidden yet life-altering negative side effects of cancer treatment. Traditional chemotherapy destroys cancer by killing rapidly growing cancer cells has several visible, relatively minor side effects—rashes, hair loss and bruising. More severe patient reactions to chemotherapy include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, bleeding and malnutrition. These symptoms are caused by mucositis—inflammation that destroys epithelial cells and can lead to ulceration in the upper digestive tract and the small intestine. Mucositis is highly likely to result in decreased quality of life and interruption of cancer treatment.
Steven Townsend, associate professor of chemistry, and Fang Yan, research professor of pediatrics and cell and development biology, have discovered how a sugar in human breast milk, 2’-fucosyllactose, mitigates damage to the small intestines caused by chemotherapy-induced mucositis.