Broccoli compound could prevent breast cancer

Researchers have developed a new compound, designed from a known anti-cancer agent found in broccoli, that shows potential for preventing breast cancer.

Apparently less toxic than its natural counterpart, the compound could be marketed for cancer prevention, believe researchers. Their findings were presented at the 224th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.

Tests in animals have shown encouraging results, but no human studies have been done. If tests confirm the findings, the compound could be developed into a once-a-day pill or vitamin component for cancer prevention and perhaps be on the market in seven to ten years, the researchers said.

"It may be easier to take a cancer-prevention pill once a day rather than rely on massive quantities of fruits and vegetables,"​ said Dr Jerry Kosmeder, research assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and an investigator in the study.

Called oxomate, the synthetic compound works like its natural counterpart, sulforaphane, which was recently identified as a cancer-preventive agent in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables (such as cabbage and Brussel sprouts). Both compounds boost the body's production of phase II enzymes, which can detoxify cancer-causing chemicals and reduce cancer risk.

However Kosmeder warned that the natural broccoli compound, sulforaphane, can be toxic in high doses. He cited laboratory studies in which the compound, above certain levels, killed cultured animal cells. It is also difficult and expensive to synthesize. These factors make sulforaphane a poor candidate for drug development, he said.

Kosmeder designed oxomate to be less toxic than its parent compound by removing the chemical components that appear to be responsible for this toxicity. In tests on cultured liver cells, oxomate was seven times less toxic than sulforaphane, the researcher said. The synthetic compound is also cheaper and easier to produce, he added.

In tests on female rats, those that were fed oxomate after exposure to cancer-inducing chemicals had up to a 50 per cent reduction in the number of breast tumours compared to rats that did not receive the compound.

After the initial discovery of sulforaphane as a broccoli component (by researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore), consumers have been urged to eat more of the vegetable and its close relatives to obtain its cancer-fighting benefit. Consumers also have a growing number of options in supplements, including sprouts, teas and tablets made from natural concentrates.

Kosmeder believes that these variations present a dosing challenge, as not all broccoli-derived products contain the same amount of sulforaphane. This is due to variations in the vegetable's processing, growing conditions and strain, he said.

"Oxomate would give you a definitive benefit; you'd know exactly how much you're getting everyday, its exact benefit and risk,"​ the researcher said.

Oxomate could be taken along with other cancer preventive agents, including nutrients and drugs, in an effort to maximize protection, he said.

Tamoxifen is currently the only FDA-approved drug for breast cancer prevention in high-risk women. It works by a different mechanism from oxomate. Tamoxifen helps a woman who has oestrogen-dependent tumours, but may not help those with non-oestrogen-dependent tumours, according to Kosmeder. He explained that a drug based on oxomate would help prevent cancer formation regardless of whether the tumour is oestrogen-dependent or non-oestrogen-dependent.

If subsequent tests for preventing other types of cancer prove effective, then oxomate might be useful for anyone who is at increased risk of cancer due to exposure to cancer-causing agents. The drug would be particularly beneficial for those at highest risk, such as smokers, said Kosmeder.

Consumers were still urged to continue eating healthful amounts of fruits and vegetables and to reduce their exposure to cancer risk factors, such as smoking.

Kosmeder conducted his oxomate studies as part of a research team headed by Dr John Pezzuto, head of the department of medicinal chemistry and pharmacognosy at the university and deputy director of its Cancer Center.

The National Cancer Institute provided funding for the study.