Bromelain and acetylcysteine (BromAc®): a novel approach to the treatment of mucinous tumours

Henry K Wen; Sarah J Valle; David L Morris

Bromelain and acetylcysteine (BromAc^®): a novel approach to the treatment of mucinous tumours

Am J Cancer Res. 2023 Apr 15;13(4):1522-1532. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Henry K Wen¹, Sarah J Valle^{2

3}, David L Morris^{1

2

4}

Affiliations

¹ St George and Sutherland Clinical School, University of New South Wales Kogarah, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
² Mucpharm Pty Ltd, Kogarah Sydney, NSW, Australia.
³ Intensive Care Unit, St George Hospital Kogarah, NSW, Australia.
⁴ Department of Surgery, St George Hospital Kogarah, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 37168359
PMCID: PMC10164791

Abstract

Mucins are a significant extracellular component of neoplastic entities such as pseudomyxoma peritonei and several gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas. Mucinous tumours present a challenge for systemic treatments due to poor drug penetrance and increased resistance. Therefore, the development of an effective mucolytic therapy has significant therapeutic implications for these tumour types. BromAc^® is a novel mucolytic agent consisting of bromelain and acetylcysteine. It has demonstrated significant mucolysis and antitumour effects in vitro and in vivo for several mucinous tumours. It has also exhibited a synergistic potentiation of the effect of several cytotoxic agents on mucinous tumours in preclinical studies. Furthermore, it demonstrates locoregional safety and efficacy in animal and clinical studies. This literature review will summarise the history of BromAc^® for mucinous tumours, including its conception, preclinical development in vitro and in vivo, and clinical evidence. The implications of current data and directions for future research are then discussed.

Keywords: BromAc; Mucins; adenocarcinoma; cancer therapy; chemo-sensitisation; pseudomyxoma peritonei.

Publication types

Review