Your Mother Was Right

Broccoli Compound Fights Cancer Growth


(Dec. 3) - The mystery of how a compound in broccoli and cabbage fights cancer has been solved, scientists announced Tuesday. And the discovery may lead to the development of anti-cancer drugs with fewer side effects.

The compound, indole-3-carbinol (I3C), diminishes the activity of an enzyme in rapidly advancing breast cancer, University of California, Berkeley, researchers said. The compound is already undergoing clinical trials in humans after it was found to stop the growth of breast and prostate cancer cells in mice.

A compound in cabbage and broccoli called indole-3-carbinol lowers activity in an enzyme associated with late-stage breast cancer, University of California, Berkeley, scientists announced Dec. 2. The discovery could lead to anti-cancer drugs with fewer side effects, researchers said. Click through for other studies on disease-fighting food and food compounds.

Though I3C has been known to fight cancer since the 1970s, the new findings are the first to explain how the compound stops cell growth. Scientists are hopeful that the discovery will help make drugs that are more naturally effective in fighting a range of breast cancers and prostate tumors.

"Humans have co-evolved with cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts, so this natural source has a lot fewer side effects," said study coauthor Gary Firestone.

I3C, one of many plant-derived chemicals called phytochemicals, inhibits the enzyme elastase. Breast cancer patients with high levels of elastase respond less effectively to chemotherapy and endocrine treatments, and they have lower survival rates.

I3C, which is available as a supplement, is a preventative treatment for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, a condition involving non-malignant tumors of the larynx. Scientists said this shows that the chemical may also help treat cancers other than those of the breast and prostate.