Compounds in broccoli, cauliflower, and watercress
block lung cancer progression.                               
 
FEB, 2008  
zhion@zhion.com
A family of compounds found in cruciferous vegetables,
such as broccoli, cauliflower, and watercress, blocked lung
cancer progression in both animal studies and in tests with
human lung cancer cells.

Chemoprevention is regarded as one of the most promising and
realistic approaches in the prevention of human cancer. Among
naturally occurring products, sulfur-containing compounds,
especially garlic compounds and isothiocyanates, represent two
important and promising chemopreventive families because of
their potent chemopreventive effects in various in vivo and in vitro
models. In recent years, numerous investigations have shown
that sulfur-containing compounds induce apoptosis in multiple cell
lines and experimental animals. [2]

What is Isothiocyanates?

Isothiocyanates are sulfur-containing compounds which are largely
responsible for the typical flavor of cruciferous vegetables. In
animals including humans they are conjugated with glutathione;
the first product of this reaction is a dithiocarbamate, which can
be ultimately metabolized to the corresponding mercapturic acid,
excreted in urine. [1]

What is the benefits of isothiocyanates or veggie diets?

Epidemiological studies on the relationship between cancer risk
with isothiocyanate intake or excretion have shown inverse
associations, mainly with lung cancer. The studies are also
consistent in reporting a gene-environment interaction, with a
stronger protective effect in persons null for the GSTM1 or GSTT1
genotype. [1]

Recent study has shown its benefits on lung cancer.

The study's principal investigator Fung-Lung Chung, Ph.D., say
the results, published in a set of papers in the September 15
issue of Cancer Research, suggest that these chemicals — put
into a veggie pill of sorts — might some day be used to help
current and former smokers ward off development of lung cancer,
the leading cause of cancer death in Americans.

One of the two new studies being reported was the first to test
whether these compounds, derived from naturally occurring
isothiocyanates, could have an impact on the stages of cancer
development specifically after exposure to cancer-causing
elements . To test that, the researchers induced lung tumor
development in experimental mice by exposing them to tobacco
carcinogens, and then they fed one group of mice the veggie
compounds. They found that, indeed, use of the chemicals
resulted in a reduced development of benign (harmless) lung
tumors to malignant tumors, compared to mice that did not
receive the compound.

The second new study looked at the effect of the same compound
on human lung cancer cells, which were forced to grow quickly (as
cancer does) because of insertion of a gene known to be involved
in cell growth and regulation. The laboratory test showed that the
derivative of isothiocyanate significantly pushed the human lung
cells to commit “suicide,” compared to cells that did not have
the gene, suggesting that its use may stop fast growing lung
cancer cells from the outset. This study provides some insight
onto “one of the possible mechanisms of action” by which the
compounds may offer some protection against lung cancer
development, the researchers said.

These studies were continuation of a 20-year research effort by
Chung and his team, much of it conducted while Chung was at the
Institute for Cancer Prevention before moving to Georgetown
University Medical Center. The body of research they have
established on the connection between cruciferous vegetables and
lung cancer is one of the most detailed available.

The study was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of
Health.

REFERENCES
[1] Bianchini F and Vainio H Isothiocyanates in cancer prevention. Drug Metab Rev.
2004 Oct;36(3-4):655-67.[2] Wu X, Kassie F, and  Mersch-Sundermann V,
Induction of apoptosis in tumor cells by naturally occurring sulfur-containing
compounds. Mutat Res. 2005 Mar;589(2):81-102. Epub 2005 Jan 4. [3] Laura
Cavender, Compounds Found in Veggies Can Block Lung Cancer Progression in
Experimental Studies, Georgetown University Medical Center , Press Release,
September 15, 2005
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