Broccoli Blocks Prostate Cancer Cells
Broccoli Blocks Prostate Cancer Cells
Chemical Could Be Used In Cancer Prevention, Treatment
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May 20, 2003 -- Broccoli, cauliflower, kale -- known in the veggie world as cruciferous -- do seem to fight cancer. A new study finds that those vegetables contain chemicals that block the growth of human prostate cancer cells, and could aid in cancer prevention.
The study appears in the June 6 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
In fact, several studies have pointed to the cancer-prevention properties of phytochemicals found in these vegetables, writes lead researcher Hien T. Le, PhD, a molecular biologist with the University of California at Berkeley.
Consumption of cruciferous vegetables has been linked with prevention of cancers of the breast, endometrium, colon, and prostate, he says.
A major active compound found in these veggies -- called indole-3-carbinol or 13C -- has shown promising cancer-prevention properties both in petri dish and animal studies, he says. The compound is converted in the body to something called DIM, which in this case acts as a powerful male hormone blocker and stops the prostate cancer cells from growing and dividing.
In this series of petri-dish studies, Le found that when 13C was digested in the body, it reduced the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the cancer cells. PSA is used as an indicator of prostate cancer activity.
In fact, the treated cancer cells grew 70% less than the untreated cancer cells, he says.
His studies show that these chemicals are "novel, naturally occurring" and could have potential in cancer prevention or treatment, he says.
Broccoli Blocks Prostate Cancer Cells
Chemical Could Be Used In Cancer Prevention, Treatment
-->
May 20, 2003 -- Broccoli, cauliflower, kale -- known in the veggie world as cruciferous -- do seem to fight cancer. A new study finds that those vegetables contain chemicals that block the growth of human prostate cancer cells, and could aid in cancer prevention.
The study appears in the June 6 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
In fact, several studies have pointed to the cancer-prevention properties of phytochemicals found in these vegetables, writes lead researcher Hien T. Le, PhD, a molecular biologist with the University of California at Berkeley.
Consumption of cruciferous vegetables has been linked with prevention of cancers of the breast, endometrium, colon, and prostate, he says.
A major active compound found in these veggies -- called indole-3-carbinol or 13C -- has shown promising cancer-prevention properties both in petri dish and animal studies, he says. The compound is converted in the body to something called DIM, which in this case acts as a powerful male hormone blocker and stops the prostate cancer cells from growing and dividing.
In this series of petri-dish studies, Le found that when 13C was digested in the body, it reduced the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the cancer cells. PSA is used as an indicator of prostate cancer activity.
In fact, the treated cancer cells grew 70% less than the untreated cancer cells, he says.
His studies show that these chemicals are "novel, naturally occurring" and could have potential in cancer prevention or treatment, he says.