Sesamin, a sesame-derived compound, demonstrates potential to suppress bladder cancer metastasis.

Dr. Chao-Yen Ho, attending physician in the Department of Urology at SKH and a doctoral candidate at NYCU’s Institute of Traditional Medicine, explained the breakthrough: “We have mapped a comprehensive molecular pathway showing how sesamin downregulates long non-coding RNA expression, thereby interrupting intracellular signaling and reducing the expression of matrix metalloproteinase MMP2—an enzyme critical to cancer cell spread. This offers a safer therapeutic avenue through natural compound intervention.”

The research team also discovered that sesamin enhances the sensitivity of bladder cancer cells to conventional chemotherapy drugs. This dual action boosts therapeutic efficacy and indicates potential for reducing the required dosage of chemotherapeutic agents, mitigating patient side effects.

Sesame in the Spotlight: From Classical Texts to Clinical Innovation

“This represents a novel and promising clinical strategy for bladder cancer treatment,” said Dr. I-Sheng Hwang, Director of the Department of Surgery and attending urologist at SKH, who led the study. “Natural products like sesamin could become valuable tools in integrative cancer therapy.” An-Chen Chang from the SKH’s Translational Medicine Center added, “Sesamin demonstrates excellent safety and biocompatibility. This is the first time its anti-metastatic potential in bladder cancer has been scientifically validated.”

The findings also resonate with long-standing principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which emphasize the role of food as medicine. Sesame has historically been valued for kidney nourishment and digestive health, as documented in ancient texts such as the Compendium of Materia Medica, which praises its ability to “replenish qi and blood, strengthen the brain, and prolong life.”

Professor Tung-Yi Lin, Director of NYCU’s Institute of Traditional Medicine, emphasized the broader significance of the research: “This study not only confirms the anti-tumor mechanism of sesamin using modern molecular biology but also helps bridge traditional medicine and evidence-based science. It adds empirical value to the modernization and clinical application of TCM.”

With further clinical trials on the horizon, sesamin’s evolution from kitchen staple to cancer-fighting ally marks a potential paradigm shift in integrative oncology.

Dr. Chao-Yen Ho (second from left), an attending urologist at Shin Kong Hospital, and Professor I-Sheng Hwang (center), Director of the Department of Surgery, are pictured with fellow research team members.