Quick Facts

• Natural compounds in dark sweet cherries reduced tumor growth and spread in mice with triple-negative breast cancer
• Triple-negative breast cancer affects 10-20% of breast cancer patients and has limited treatment options
• Anthocyanins combined with chemotherapy showed earlier tumor growth reduction while mice maintained weight

Natural compounds found in dark sweet cherries may help slow the growth and spread of triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease, according to new research from Texas A&M University published in February 2026.

The study focused on anthocyanins, natural plant pigments that give dark sweet cherries their deep red color. Researchers tested these compounds on triple-negative breast cancer, a subtype known for its limited treatment options and high metastasis risk.

Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for 10-20% of invasive breast cancers. About 50% of patients develop drug resistance, and approximately 46% will have distant metastasis. The median survival time after metastasis is only 13.3 months.

“Triple-negative breast cancer is considered ‘the worst’ because it is more aggressive, higher grade, and has a higher mitotic index, meaning the cancer cells divide quickly,” said Dr. Giuliana Noratto, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Associate Research Scientist.

In the study, mice receiving anthocyanin-rich dark sweet cherry extracts before tumor implantation showed slower tumor growth without noticeable side effects. The treated mice continued to gain weight throughout the study period.

Key molecular findings showed significant reductions in cancer cell invasion and migration after anthocyanin treatment. The compounds also downregulated Akt and mTOR pathways, which are involved in cancer cell growth and survival.

When researchers combined anthocyanins with chemotherapy, tumor growth slowed earlier and mice maintained their weight better than those receiving chemotherapy alone. The treatment reduced cancer spread to the lungs and lowered metastasis likelihood to organs including the liver, heart, kidneys, and spleen.

“This is important because cancer lethality is primarily due to metastasis,” Noratto explained. “A large primary tumor that does not metastasize may be more manageable, even curable if removed.”

Unlike other breast cancer subtypes, triple-negative breast cancer lacks estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2 protein expression. This absence of molecular targets leaves fewer treatment options and increases metastasis risk, particularly to the lungs and brain.

Dr. Lauren Stranahan, Texas A&M Clinical Assistant Professor, emphasized the collaborative approach needed for cancer research. “What we’re understanding about cancer now is that no single treatment is going to be effective against a cancer. You’re going to have to employ a number of different treatments.”

The research team noted that further studies are required to better understand how anthocyanins affect tumor behavior and how they may be used alongside existing cancer treatments. The findings provide a foundation for future clinical trials in humans.

Read more: A Compound In This Fruit May Slow The Growth Of Breast Cancer