- WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Broccoli
and red chili peppers may help fight cancer by slowing the growth of cancerous
tumor cells, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.
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- They may be especially helpful in hard-to-treat cancers
such as pancreatic and ovarian cancer, the team at the University of Pittsburgh
said.
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- "In our studies, we decided to look at two particular
cancers -- ovarian and pancreatic -- with low survival rates, to ascertain
the contribution of diet and nutrition to the development of these cancers,"
said Sanjay Srivastava, who led the study.
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- "We discovered that red chili pepper and broccoli
appear to be effective inhibitors of the cancer process."
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- Speaking to a meeting of the American Association for
Cancer Research in Anaheim, California, Srivastava said he and colleagues
tested capsaicin, which makes peppers hot, against pancreatic cancer cells
in a lab dish.
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- The compound caused the cancer cells to self-destruct
in a process called apoptosis, while not affecting normal pancreatic cells.
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- "Our results demonstrate that capsaicin is a potent
anticancer agent, induces apoptosis in cancer cells and produces no significant
damage to normal pancreatic cells, indicating its potential use as a novel
chemotherapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer," Srivastava said.
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- His team also examined phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC),
a constituent of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, on ovarian cancer
cells.
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- PEITC interfered with a protein called epidermal growth
factor receptor, which is involved in the growth of ovarian and other cancerous
tumors.
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- The studies may help explain why people who eat large
amounts of fruits and vegetables have a lower risk of cancer, Srivastava
said.
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