The annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research held in Washington, DC, was the site of a presentation on April 5, 2006 by Shivendra Singh, PhD of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine of the discovery that compounds found in cruciferous vegetables are able to arrest the growth of human prostate cancer tumors implanted into mice. Cruciferous vegetables are a family of vegetables that include broccoli, watercress, cabbage and cauliflower, and have been associated with cancer preventive benefits in a number of studies.

The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute researchers grafted human prostate tumor tissue into mice, followed by the oral administration of a small quantity of phenethyl-ITC (PEITC), a type of isothiocyanate that is generated in cruciferous vegetables when they are cut or chewed. The amount of the compound given to the animals was equivalent to concentrations achievable human diets.

After 31 days of treatment, the team found that PEITC induced apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in cancerous cells. Mice in whom tumors were implanted who did not receive the compound had an average tumor volume that was 1.9 times greater than those who received PEITC.

Dr Singh commented, "The contribution of diet and nutrition to cancer risk, prevention and treatment have been a major focus of research in recent years because certain nutrients in vegetables and dietary agents appear to protect the body against diseases such as cancer. From epidemiologic data, we know that increased consumption of vegetables reduces the risk for certain types of cancer, but now we are beginning to understand the mechanisms by which certain edible vegetables like broccoli help our bodies fight cancer and other diseases. Our next step is to design clinical trials to determine the efficacy of PEITC for prostate cancer prevention in men."