More Evidence Of Cancer Fighting Benefit From Nutrients In Certain Vegetables

Chemicals in cruciferous vegetables, such broccoli, watercress, cabbage and cauliflower, appear to stop human prostate cancer cells growing in mice by affecting the expression of proteins, says a University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute study, abstract number 5601, being presented today at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
"The contribution of diet and nutrition to cancer risk, prevention and treatment have a major focus of research in recent years because certain nutrients in vegetables and dietary agents appear to protect the body diseases such as cancer," said Shivendra Singh, Ph.D., lead investigator and professor of pharmacology and urology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "From epidemiologic data, we know that increased consumption of vegetables reduces the risk for certain of cancer, but now we are beginning to understand the mechanisms by which certain edible vegetables like broccoli help our bodies fight cancer and diseases."
Dr. Singh's study is based on phytochemicals found in several cruciferous vegetables called isothiocyanates (ITCs), which are generated vegetables are either cut or chewed. His laboratory has found that phenethyl-ITC, or PEITC, is highly effective in suppressing the growth of human prostate cancer cells concentrations achievable through dietary intake of cruciferous vegetables.
In seeking to further define mechanisms by which PEITC induces apoptosis, or programmed cell death, mice were grafted with human prostate tumors and orally administered a small amount of PEITC daily. 31 days of treatment, the average tumor volume in the control group that not receive PEITC was 1.9 times higher than that of the treatment group. In addition, a pro-apoptotic protein called Bax appeared play a role in bringing about apoptosis by PEITC.
"Our next step is to design clinical trials to determine the efficacy of PEITC for prostate cancer prevention men," said Dr. Singh