A team of researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center in the United States explored whether Boswellia extract, commonly known as frankincense extract, could influence the progression of breast cancer after surgical tumor removal. The findings were reported in a peer-reviewed study published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, signaling a potential supplementary option to standard care for patients navigating breast cancer after tumor excision.
The clinical trial enrolled 22 women who had undergone surgery to remove breast tumors. Participants received a daily dose of Boswellia extract, averaging 2400 milligrams, for about 11 days. The exact duration of the preoperative interval varied from five to twenty-three days among the participants, reflecting real-world scheduling differences in surgical care. Boswellia is a resin produced by certain trees that has long been noted for its anti-inflammatory properties, which are thought to play a role in modulating the tumor milieu and possibly altering cancer cell behavior. In this study, researchers sought to determine whether daily supplementation could impact the biology of residual cancer cells by comparing tumor tissue collected during the biopsy procedure with tissue removed during subsequent surgery among the same patients when possible.
Analyses focused on cellular activity within cancerous tissue. Results demonstrated that women who received frankincense extract showed reduced activity of cancer cells compared with tissue obtained from earlier biopsy samples. This reduction in cellular activity is interpreted as an indicator of slowed tumor growth or suppressed malignant behavior, suggesting that Boswellia extract might influence pathways involved in cancer cell proliferation, invasion, or survival. Although encouraging, the authors stressed that these observations do not imply a replacement for established treatments, such as surgery, radiation, or systemic therapies. The study emphasizes that Boswellia extract is a potential adjuvant rather than a substitute, and it highlights the need for further research to uncover the precise mechanisms by which the extract modulates cancer cell activity and tumor dynamics in humans.
Additional considerations include the safety profile of Boswellia extract, the optimal dosing strategies, and the duration of therapy needed to achieve meaningful clinical effects. Future studies are anticipated to clarify how boswellia-derived compounds interact with standard breast cancer therapies, whether benefits vary by tumor subtype, and which biomarkers best predict responsiveness. While this early work contributes a valuable data point to the growing interest in plant-derived adjuncts for cancer care, it remains one piece of a larger puzzle. Continued investigation will be essential to determine whether these findings translate into tangible improvements in patient outcomes in broader populations and under routine clinical practice conditions.
Overall, the current evidence positions Boswellia extract as a promising area of exploration for supporting traditional breast cancer treatments. Clinicians and patients should approach such interventions with measured expectations, recognizing that more comprehensive, well-controlled trials are necessary to establish definitive benefits, optimal use parameters, and long-term safety. The pursuit of complementary strategies reflects the ongoing effort to enhance cancer care through scientifically validated, integrative approaches that respect the complexities of tumor biology and patient well-being.