A major challenge in treating colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., is that the cancer cells can become resistant to the chemotherapies that treat them. In a pre-clinical study, Jala and his team found that using Urolithin A (UroA) and its potent structural analogue UAS03 in combination with the anti-cancer drug 5-fluorouracil, improves effectiveness of the drug by sensitizing the cancer cells to the drug’s effects. UroA, a metabolite derived from berry and pomegranate components ellagic acid and ellagitannins, is recognized as a safe dietary supplement by the FDA.

Sweta Ghosh, a post-doctoral associate at UofL, was first author on the study and Rajbir Singh, former UofL post-doc, executed the experiments. This research was funded by the National Cancer Institute and a COBRE project grant.

More information about their research is .

Kentucky African Americans Against Cancer, Horses and Hope, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, KentuckyOne Health and Partnership in Cancer Control have joined with the Kentucky Cancer Program to sponsor the screenings. The program is funded by the WellCare Community Foundation. The screenings will be provided by the Horses and Hope Cancer Screening Van.

The following will be provided from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.:

• Mammograms for breast cancer screening
  • For women age 40 and over
  • No cost to women without insurance
  • Advance appointments required by calling 502-776-117
• Colon cancer screenings
  • Take-home stool test (FIT Kits)
  • For all men and women age 50 and over
  • For African-American men and women age 45 and over
  • No appointment needed
• Blood pressure checks, health insurance information and free gifts

For additional information, contact Janikaa Sherrod, Kentucky Cancer Program, 502-852-6318.