EMILY COOK, "Eating sprouts can help prevent breast cancer, claims
study", Daily Mail, October 11, 2006,
Link:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770
Brussels sprouts and cabbage could be the latest weapons in the battle
against breast cancer, according to new research.
Scientists have discovered a chemical in the green vegetables that
appears to kill off breast cancer cells when combined with chemotherapy
drugs.
Previous studies have already suggested a link between eating such
vegetables and prevention against cancer.
But this is one of the first studies examining how the vegetables can
play a role in treating the disease.
For the latest research, British scientists studied the effects of the
naturally-occuring compound indole-3-carbinol (I3C) on tumour cells in
the laboratory.
I3C is found in cruciferous vegetables (belonging to the mustard
family), including broccoli, cauliflower, kale and watercress, with
high concentrations in Brussels sprouts and cabbage.
For the research, carried out at the University of Leicester, cancer
cells were fed doses of around 300mg to 400mg a day - roughly the same
amount found in a trolley-full of cabbages.
The study showed that when the compound was used in conjunction with
common chemotherapy drugs, the tumour cells were killed off.
Professor Margaret Manson, of the Department of Biochemistry and the
Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, said the trials
were in the early stages but hoped the findings will eventually benefit
cancer patients.
Speaking at the National Cancer Research Institute Conference in
Birmingham, she said: "Obviously, in humans you would want to reverse
the cancer, but if you could even halt it so it does not progress
further, that would be beneficial.
"Usually what kills patients is metastatic cancer, where it spreads
around the body.
"Although we need to carry out further studies on tumours removed from
patients, the potential benefits are clear."
The study, funded by the Medical Research Council, involved using I3C
on four different types of breast cancer cells. The findings were
published in the journal Carcinogenesis.
Professor Manson said that the compound appeared to alter the molecules
in three of the cell types, making them more vulnerable to anticancer
drugs.
Combining the compound with chemotherapy drugs therefore enhanced the
drugs' effectiveness.
It is thought that I3C may have a similar impact on colon cancer cells.
Prof Manson added: "We will repeat the studies on cells derived
directly from patient tumours which have been surgically removed and,
if the results are confirmed, this will eventually lead to clinical
trials." Dr Sheila Bingham, director of the Medical Research Council
Centre for Nutrition and Cancer at the University of Cambridge, said:
"This study supports the growing evidence that food can be important in
altering our susceptibility to cancer and possibly survival from it,
and may help to explain why fruits and vegetables are so important."
Josephine Querido, science information officer at Cancer Research UK,
said: "This study adds to the evidence that I3C molecule - found in
broccoli, cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables - can help block the
growth of breast cancer cells.
"The work was carried out on cells grown in the laboratory and it is
not yet clear if I3C will have a role in breast cancer treatment.
"After stopping smoking, a healthy balanced diet including plenty of
fruit and vegetables is the best way to reduce your risk of developing
certain cancers."
Eating sprouts can help prevent breast cancer, claims study 
Linear Mode
