Aspartame and stomach cancer proteins in computer analysis
What it found
In computer-based analyses, aspartame was predicted to interact with several proteins linked to stomach cancer, and the authors say this supports a hypothesis that it might have carcinogenic potential.
No people or animals were studied.
What they found
Shared protein targets
The analysis found 373 proteins that both aspartame and stomach cancer are linked to. These were treated as possible targets for aspartame in stomach cancer.
Key proteins and pathways
Ten core proteins were identified, including AKT1, IL1B, SRC, EGFR, MMP9 and CASP3. These are involved in cell growth, cell death, immune response and tumour spread.
Gene expression in tissue
In two sets of stomach cancer gene data, MMP9 was higher and CASP3 was lower in cancer tissue than in healthy tissue. The authors say this may mean more breakdown of the matrix around cells and less cell death.
Survival links
The analysis suggests MMP9 and CASP3 may influence overall survival in stomach cancer. High MMP9 was linked to a poorer outlook, and low CASP3 to a more aggressive tumour.
Docking to proteins
In computer docking, aspartame bound to six proteins with binding energies from -5.538 to -7.75 kcal/mol. The strongest binding was to MMP9, which the authors say fits with the higher MMP9 gene expression seen.
What the authors conclude
“The findings suggest that aspartame has the potential to impact various cancer-related proteins, potentially raising the likelihood of cellular carcinogenesis by interfering with biomolecular function.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that aspartame has the potential to impact various cancer-related proteins and may raise the likelihood of cellular carcinogenesis by interfering with biomolecular function.
- They say the action patterns and pathways of aspartame-related targets are like those of known carcinogenic pathways, which they say supports the scientific hypothesis of its potential carcinogenicity.
- They call for future research to reveal how aspartame might contribute to stomach cancer through cellular signalling pathways, and for results to be confirmed in larger groups and by epidemiological research.
How it was done
The authors say public and scientific debate continues about whether long-term aspartame use carries cancer risks, and they wanted a molecular-level look at possible mechanisms.
They used network toxicology and molecular docking to find proteins that aspartame might affect and that are also linked to stomach cancer. They also checked two public sets of gene expression data from stomach cancer tissue and healthy tissue, and looked at survival data for two genes.
What it can’t tell you
- This work is based on computer predictions and public gene data, not on people or animals, so it cannot show that aspartame causes cancer in humans.
- The authors say their results are based on observational biomarker patterns, which limits what can be said about cause and effect.
- The gene data results need to be checked with lab methods and in larger, separate groups before any link to aspartame consumption can be confirmed.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no competing interests.
- Authors work at
- Fenghua Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
The paper
- Title
- Aspartame carcinogenic potential revealed through network toxicology and molecular docking insights
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Chen D, Hou X (2024). Aspartame carcinogenic potential revealed through network toxicology and molecular docking insights. Scientific reports. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-62461-wFree full textPubMed 38769413DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error