A compound derived from broccoli may help prevent or treat breast cancer, with sasran stem cells or cancer stem cells (stem cells), according to researchers at the University of Michigan Cancer Center, USA.
The study tested sulforaphane, a compound in broccoli and broccoli sprouts. The researchers found sulforaphane can kill the cancer stem cells and prevent the growth of new tumors.
"Previously, sulforaphane has been investigated for its effects against cancer, but this study suggests that these compounds are useful in inhibiting breast cancer stem cells," said the authors of this study, Duxin Sun, Ph.D., professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the School of Pharmacy, University of Michigan. The results of this study published in Clinical Cancer Research issue May 1.
Chemotherapy does not currently work against cancer stem cells, so cancer continues to grow and spread. Researchers believe that eliminating the cancer stem cells is the key to controlling cancer.
In this study, researchers used mice as experimental models. Mice with breast cancer were then injected with sulforaphane extracted from broccoli. The researchers then used several methods to assess the amount of cancer stem cells in tumors. After treatment with sulforaphane, a sharp decline in the number of cancer stem cells, with little effect on normal cells. Furthermore, cancer cells from mice treated with sulforaphane was not able to produce new tumors. The researchers then tested sulforaphane on human breast cancer, and researchers found a similar reduction in cancer stem cells.
"This study suggests a potential new treatment that can be combined with other compounds to kill breast cancer stem cells," says researcher Max S. Wicha, director of the UM Comprehensive Cancer Center.
