Quote[/b] ]Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley decided to investigate the cancer-fighting effects of chemicals in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbage.
"We realized that what was missing was a comprehensive study of how these natural compounds affect the growth and function of reproductive cancer cells," says study co-author Gary Firestone, a professor of molecular and cell biology at the University of California at Berkeley.
The researchers found that a chemical known as 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), a byproduct of eating cruciferous vegetables, appeared to prevent the growth of breast cancer (news - web sites) cells. They next turned to prostate cancer cells.
The researchers found that prostate cancer cells treated with DIM grew 70 percent slower than untreated cells.
Their research will appear in the June 6 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
The chemical appears to prevent cancer cells from receiving signals from the hormone testosterone, Firestone says. That, in turn, prevents the cells from growing.
