Plant compound may ward off cancer spread, recurrence

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

A compound and enzyme found in cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower and broccoli may help to prevent the spread and recurrence of some cancers, according to a study out of South Dakota.

Moul Dey, PhD, and her researchers from South Dakota State University have been doing research on phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a compound and enzyme in these vegetables that combine while chewing.

While PEITC may be developed as an effective dietary supplement, studies demonstrate that cancer-preventing levels of PEITC may be achieved through diet alone.

When Dr. Dey and her colleagues treated cervical cancer stem cells with a 20-micromolar concentration of the PEITC compound in a petri dish, they found that about 75 percent of them diet within 24 hours.

Lower concentrations were also found to be effective. Working with veterinarians, Dey found that 10-micromolar concentrations of PEITC was able to significantly prevent the spread of cancer in mouse lung tissue.

Further testing, she urged, is necessary to determine outcomes in humans.