American Chemical Society's Weekly PressPac -- Aug...(ause cancer it appears that at the level...)

Acrylamide has been detected in many widely-consumed foods, ranging from French fries to coffee. The highest levels are in fried and baked products such as potato chips and other snack foods. Although classified as a probable human carcinogen on the basis of animal studies, there is currently no consensus on dietary acrylamides risks to human health. With food safety authorities in Europe taking steps to curb acrylamide, controversy has arisen over whether similar action should be taken in the U. S.

ARTICLE #7 EMBARGOED FOR: Tuesday, Aug. 21, 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time

CONTACT:
Lorelei A. Mucci, ScD
Harvard University School of Public Health
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Phone: 617-525-2132
E-mail: lmucci@hsph.harvard.edu

ARTICLE #8 EMBARGOED FOR: Tuesday, Aug. 21, 1:00 p.m., Eastern Time

Cranberries may improve chemotherapy for ovarian cancer

Compounds in cranberries may help improve the effectiveness of platinum drugs that are used in chemotherapy to fight ovarian cancer, researchers have found in a laboratory study. The scientists demonstrated in cell culture studies that human ovarian cancer cells resistant to platinum drugs became up to six times more sensitized to the drugs after exposure to the cranberry compounds in comparison to cells that were not exposed to the compounds, which were obtained from juice extracts.

Although preliminary, the findings have the potential to save lives and reduce the harmful side effects associated with using high doses of platinum drugs for the treatment of ovarian cancer, the researchers say, adding that human studies are still needed. The new study adds to a growing number of potential health benefits linked to cranberries.

For the first time, we have shown in our in vitro studie
'/>"/>