A Presurgical-Window Intervention Trial of Isothiocyanate-Rich Broccoli Sprout Extract in Patients with Breast Cancer.

Abstract

SCOPE:

Dietary isothiocyanates (ITCs) from cruciferous vegetables have shown potent anti-breast cancer activities in preclinical models, but their anticancer effects in vivo in breast cancer patients remain elusive. A proof-of-principle, presurgical window of opportunity trial is conducted to assess the anticancer effects of dietary ITCs in breast cancer patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Thirty postmenopausal breast cancer patients are randomly assigned to receive ITC-rich broccoli sprout extract (BSE) (200 µmol ITC per day) or a placebo for 2 weeks. Expression of biomarkers related to ITCs functions are measured in breast cancer tissue specimens at pre- and post-interventions using immunohistochemistry staining. First morning urine samples are collected at both timepoints for proteomic analysis. Overall, the study shows high compliance (100%) and low toxicity (no grade 4 adverse event). Trends of increase in cleaved caspase 3 and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and trends of decrease in Ki-67 and nuclear to cytoplasm ratio of estrogen receptor (ER)-α are observed in the BSE arm only, consistent with the significantly altered signaling pathways identified in urinary proteomic analysis.

CONCLUSIONS:

Anticancer activities of ITCs are observed in breast cancer patients, supporting the potential beneficial roles of ITC-containing cruciferous vegetables in breast cancer prognosis.

• Authors: Zinian Wang, Chengjian Tu, Rachel Pratt, Thaer Khoury, Jun Qu, Jed W Fahey, Susan E McCann, Yuesheng Zhang, Yue Wu, Alan D Hutson, Christine B Ambrosone, Stephen B Edge, Helen H Cappuccino, Kazuaki Takabe, Jessica S Young, Li Tang
• Journal: Molecular nutrition & food research (Mol Nutr Food Res) Vol. 66 Issue 12 Pg. e2101094 (06 2022) ISSN: 1613-4133 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 35475592 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: © 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.

Chemical References

• Isothiocyanates
• Plant Extracts

Topics

• Brassica
• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Isothiocyanates
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology)
• Proteomics