Veggies to treat cancer?
cabbage and turnips could help to keep a range of cancers at bay,
say US scientists.
Research at the Texas agricultural experiment station has culminated in a patent for a new use for derivatives of DIM, or diindolylmethane, a natural compound derived from certain vegetables, to treat cancer.
"We took advantage of a natural chemical, that research has shown will prevent cancer, and developed several more analogs," said Dr. Steve Safe, a chemist at the station who has been studying cancer for about 10 years.
Biotech company Plantacor has taken on board Safe's patent, and is due to imminently enter clinical trials.
DIM is already commercially available as a natural supplement for cancer prevention and for treating oestrogen-related health issues.
"DIM is a potent substance," said Safe. "But we made it even more potent against various tumours."
The Texan researchers report that the first development in their research using chemically altered DIM from broccoli came when the growth of breast cancer cells was inhibited in laboratory studies. Subsequent research showed these compounds also inhibited growth of pancreatic, colon, bladder and ovarian cancer cells in culture. Limited trials on lab mice and rats have produced the similar results, he noted.
Investigating the role cruciferous vegetables appear to play in preventing cancer Safe and colleagues wondered whether similar compounds could be developed for the actual treatment of cancer. They looked at the mechanism - how the compounds block cancer cell growth - and found that they target PPAR gamma, a protein that is highly active in fat cells.
Safe's lab chemically modified "natural" DIM to give a series of compounds that target the PPAR gamma and stop the growth of cancer.
"One of the best parts is that this treatment appears to have minimal or no side effects, in the mice trials; it just stops tumour growth," commented Safe. "The hope now is that the patented chemicals can be developed into useful drugs for clinical trials and then be used for cancer treatment.'
Based on the initial findings in cancer cells and animals, further research into this area by Safe and his team will concentrate on studies in humans to see if it is beneficial with people as well.
