Small study links resveratrol and copper to tumor changes in glioblastoma, but experts urge caution
Early, small trial reports biological changes in glioblastoma after a daily regimen of resveratrol and copper prior to surgery; researchers stress the approach is experimental and not a substitute for standard therapy.
A small, early-stage study in India suggests a simple, inexpensive combination of resveratrol and copper may trigger measurable biological changes in glioblastoma tumors in patients scheduled for brain surgery. Ten patients received the supplements four times daily for roughly 12 days before their operation, while the other ten did not receive supplements and served as controls.
The study, led by Dr. Indraneel Mittra at ACTREC, was published in BJC Reports in September. Researchers collected tumor tissue during surgery from all participants, enabling direct comparison between treated and untreated tumors and analysis of tumor growth, inflammation, immune activity, cancer stem cell markers and cell-free chromatin particles.
The team reported notable biological changes in treated tumors, including near complete removal of cell-free chromatin particles that can drive tumor aggressiveness. Overall, tumor growth activity fell by about 33 percent, cancer biomarkers dropped by 57 percent, immune-checkpoint signals declined by 41 percent and stem-cell markers fell by 56 percent, with no side effects reported.
The two supplements were paired because copper enables resveratrol to generate reactive molecules that break down DNA debris associated with cancer inflammation. Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in foods like red grapes and berries, showed different effects in this combination by helping dissolve DNA fragments that can inflame cancer cells.
Mittra said the results suggest that a simple, inexpensive and non-toxic nutraceutical tablet could potentially heal glioblastoma, and that the team may be on the brink of transforming cancer treatment.
Study limitations include its small size of 20 patients, the short duration of treatment (about 12 days) and tissue-based endpoints. It remains unclear whether the observed changes translate into longer-term clinical benefits or how the supplements might interact with standard therapies.
The public should understand that ours is a first step and replication in larger patient cohorts is essential, Mittra said. They should not start self-medicating simply because these items are readily available.
Experts cautioned that dietary supplements can pose risks for cancer patients and should be used only under medical supervision. The American Cancer Society noted that resveratrol plus copper is not a substitute for established cancer treatments, and some early findings have prompted cautions from the Tata Memorial Center in 2024.
Mittra and his team have pursued this line of research for more than a decade. In 2024, the Tata Memorial Center issued a statement urging caution about early resveratrol-copper findings and emphasizing that the tablet formulation is not a stand-alone treatment.
Larger, longer, carefully controlled trials are needed to determine whether resveratrol and copper are safe to use over time and whether they truly improve the course of glioblastoma. The work described here is a first step toward understanding how such nutraceuticals might influence tumor biology, but it is not a cure.
