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Study: Hot chili pepper component slows growth and kills laboratory-grown breast cancer cells

Finding new treatments that target triple-negative breast cancer is an area of great interest. An early step in developing these treatments is learning more about the biology of tumor in the laboratory. This study looked at how capsaicin, the spicy component of chili peppers, might work with a protein found in many cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer, to stop cancer cell growth. This is the first step in a long process towards developing new treatments for triple-negative breast cancer. (2/14/17)

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It may also be relevant for:

men with breast cancer
people with metastatic or advanced cancer
people with triple negative breast cancer
people newly diagnosed with cancer

Relevance: Medium-Low

Strength of Science: Medium-High

Research Timeline: Lab Research

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Chillies could help beat cancer as research finds capsaicin destroys diseased cells
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Chili pepper compound can stop breast cancer, study finds
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Findings	Limitations
Questions for your doctor	Resources
Guidelines

STUDY AT A GLANCE

This study is about:

Early research showing potential ways to stop cells from growing in the laboratory.

Why is this study important?

Preliminary laboratory studies like these are important because they help researchers to understand how breast cancer cells differ from normal cells and to identify new drugs to treat the cancer.

Study findings:

TRPV1, a protein that has been shown to be involved in cancer growth, was found in 49 different breast cancer cells grown in the laboratory and in 11 tumor samples from breast cancer patients.
Triple-negative breast cancer samples had the most TRPV1 protein.
Capsaicin, the spicy component of chili peppers, worked with TRPV1 protein in the laboratory grown triple-negative breast cancer cells to restrict their growth and cause them to die.

What does this mean for me?

This is very early research that could lead to new treatments. Laboratory studies like this one must be confirmed by more research and then tested in patients through clinical trials before they become part of recommended treatment. This study does not mean that chili peppers prevent or help treat cancer.

While this study is not ready for clinical trials, many open trials are studying ways to treat all stages of triple-negative breast cancer. For now, patients with triple-negative breast cancer should talk to their health care providers about treatment options and discuss whether or not a clinical trial is a good option. In addition, all women with triple-negative breast cancer before age 60 meet national guidelines for genetic counseling and testing for mutations in or other genes that increase cancer risk.

Posted 2/14/17

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References

Weber LV, Al-Refae K, Wolk G, et al. “Expression and functionality of TRPV1 in breast cancer cells.” Breast Cancer: Targets and Therapy, Volume 8 (2016): 243-252.

“Capsaicin Application.” Snopes.com.

Disclosure

FORCE receives funding from industry sponsors, including companies that manufacture cancer drugs, tests and devices. All XRAYS articles are written independently of any sponsor and are reviewed by members of our Scientific Advisory Board prior to publication to assure scientific integrity.

This article is also relevant for:

men with breast cancer
people with metastatic or advanced cancer
people with triple negative breast cancer
people newly diagnosed with cancer

IN DEPTH REVIEW OF RESEARCH

Study background:

The TRPV1 protein detects harmful heat and helps pathways in your body to control pain relating to temperature changes. Extremely hot temperatures, acidic conditions and capsaicin, the spicy component of chili peppers, activate TRPV1. Previous researchers found that TRPV1 is involved in the growth of cancers, such as colon and pancreatic. However, it has not been studied as much in breast cancer, and its role in all of these cancers is not well understood.

Lea Weber and colleagues from Ruhr University Bochum and other institutions published work in the journal Breast Cancer: Targets and Therapy in December 2016 to try and understand if and how TRPV1 protein is involved in breast cancer.

Researchers of this study wanted to know:

Is TRPV1 involved in breast cancer?

Population(s) looked at in the study:

This study included tumors from 11 different breast cancer patients and 49 different types of breast cancer cells grown in the laboratory.

Study findings:

TRPV1, a protein that has been shown to be involved in cancer growth, was found in 49 different breast cancer cells grown in the laboratory and 11 tumor samples from breast cancer patients.
Triple-negative breast cancer samples had the most TRPV1 protein.
Capsaicin, the spicy component of chili peppers, activates the TRPV1 protein. Adding capsaicin to triple-negative breast cancer cells slowed their growth and caused them to die.

Limitations:

While these findings are interesting, they come from a very early research study. The capsaicin treatment was used on cells grown in the laboratory, not on mice or humans. More work is needed to find out if this treatment works in animal models of breast cancer before it can be tested for human safety and effectiveness. At this time, we do not know if the lab response would be duplicated in human breast cancer patients.

It is also critical to understand that this experiment used pure capsaicin, the spicy component of chili peppers, which was likely much stronger than one would consume by eating chili peppers. The research does not show if consuming chili peppers would have any effect. This means that this study does not identify capsaicin as an ingredient to help people lower their breast cancer risk, treat breast cancer, or help prevent recurrence.

Conclusions:

This research is an early study that suggests the TRPV1 protein may play a role in breast cancer, especially triple-negative breast cancer, because it was found in all of the breast cancer cells grown in the laboratory and from patient tumor samples. It also showed that adding capsaicin, the spicy component of chili peppers, helped stop the triple-negative breast cancer cells from growing. However, because this is very early research done in cells grown in the laboratory, much more work needs to be done before this can be applied in a health care setting. Women interested in participating in trials looking at new treatments for breast cancer are encouraged to ask their health care providers about clinical trials or visit the Research section of the FORCE website.

Reports of this research have been widely shared on social media. Snopes, a website that validates or debunks news stories, has also stated that the claim that “capsaicin, the spice-causing molecule in chili peppers, can help beat breast cancer,” is unproven.

Posted 2/14/17

Share your thoughts on this XRAYS article by taking our brief survey

Expert Guidelines

Dietary Supplements

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines on survivorship include the following recommendations on dietary supplement use:

Taking dietary supplements is not recommended for most cancer survivors unless a patient has a known nutritional deficit, an inadequate diet or other indication (for example, ).
Little data exist to support the use of vitamins or other dietary supplements for cancer prevention, control or recurrence.
Taking vitamin supplements does not replace the need for a healthy diet. Patients should try to get nutrients from the foods they eat and the beverages they drink.
Providers should ask about supplement use at regular intervals, about a patient’s reasons for using supplements and the ingredients in those supplements.
Survivors of certain cancers are at risk of vitamin deficiencies based on cancer treatment (e.g., gastric cancer patients who have had a gastrectomy may be at risk of vitamin B12 and iron deficiencies).
NCCN recommends calcium and vitamin D supplements for people who have been prescribed denosumab or a bisphosphonate to treat bone or osteoporosis.
Patients taking multiple supplements and those in need of nutritional support should be referred to a registered dietitian or nutritionist, preferably one who is trained in supporting oncology patients.

Updated: 05/20/2022

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

I have triple-negative breast cancer; should I consider genetic testing?
I have triple-negative breast cancer; should I consider a clinical trial?
I have triple-negative breast cancer and a mutation in the BRCA gene; what treatment should I consider?
What genetic markers is my tumor being tested for?
What is the difference between testing for genetic markers in my tumor and testing for gene mutations in my blood, cheek swab or saliva sample?

Open Clinical Trials

The following studies look at integrative medical care for people diagnosed with cancer:

Multiple cancer types

NCT04917796: The Effect of Electroacupuncture on Nerve Pain Caused by Chemotherapy (Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy. This study investigates whether electroacupuncture can improve peripheral neuropathy pain caused by chemotherapy in cancer survivors.

Breast cancer

NCT04837820: Effect of Acupuncture on Memory and Thinking Difficulties after Breast Cancer. This study tests whether acupuncture can improve difficulties and insomnia for survivors of breast cancer.

Gynecologic cancer

NCT05053230: A Study Evaluating the Integrative Medicine at Home (IM@HOME) Program in People With Gynecologic Cancer. This study looks at whether the Integrative Medicine at Home program can reduce patients' symptoms (such as tiredness, pain or insomnia). This program offers virtual (online rather than in-person) group classes focusing on mind-body practice.

Prostate cancer

NCT04519879: White Button Mushroom Sup for the Reduction of in Pts With Biochemically Rec or Therapy Naive Fav Risk Cancer. This phase II trial studies how well white button mushroom supplement reduces prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in patients with prostate cancer that has come back (recurrent) or has favorable risk and has not undergone any therapy (therapy-naive).

Updated: 01/30/2025

Open Clinical Trials

The following studies focus on nutrition for people diagnosed with breast cancer:

NCT05056077: Tools To Be Fit: Tools to Improve Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Survivors. This study looks at which tools work best for helping cancer survivors improve their diet and exercise.
NCT05259410: Time-Restricted Eating During Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer. This study looks at whether intermittent fasting during treatment improves treatment-related outcomes and patient-related outcomes and limits treatment-related weight gain.
NCT04365569 Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Individualized Nutrition and Physical Activity Counseling Program. This pilot study looks at whether a tailored in-person and telephone-based nutrition and exercise counseling program helps breast cancer patients improve weight and fitness and thus improves cancer outcomes.
NCT03824145: Every Day Counts: A Lifestyle Program for Women With Breast Cancer (EDC). This study examines the diet and activity, body composition, blood and quality of life in metastatic breast cancer patients from Milwaukee and Chicago.
NCT05984888: Pilot Study of a MIND Diet Intervention in Women Undergoing Active Treatment for Breast Cancer. The MIND diet is high in anti-inflammatory nutrients and limits the intake of brain-unhealthy foods (i.e., foods high in fat, red meat and sweets) that may help reduce the negative effects of cancer treatments on memory and thinking. This study investigates whether the MIND diet protects cognitive function in women with invasive breast cancer who start systemic therapies.

Visit our Featured Research Page and Research Search and Enroll Tool to find additional studies enrolling people with or at high risk for cancer.

Updated: 05/31/2024

Peer Support

The following organizations offer peer support services for people with or at high risk for breast cancer:

FORCE peer support:
- Our Message Boards allow people to connect with others who share their situation. Once you register, you can post on the Diagnosed With Cancer board to connect with other people who have been diagnosed.
- Our Peer Navigation Program will match you with a volunteer who shares your mutation and situation.
- Connect online with our Private Facebook Group.
- Join our virtual and in-person support meetings.
Other organizations that offer breast cancer support:

Updated: 05/07/2024

Find Experts

The following resources can help you locate a nutritionist near you or via telehealth

Finding nutritionists

You can find a registered dietician in your area through Eatright.org, the website for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Search for nutritionists by specialty, including "cancer," "weight management" and "heart health."

Related experts

The Livestrong at the YMCA program includes a free 12-week membership and fitness training with certified exercise experts. You can search by zip code for a program near you.