Dietary Phenethyl Isothiocyanate Slows Tumor Progression in Mouse Breast Cancer Model

Addition of a natural plant compound to the diet of a breast cancer-mouse model slowed the development of tumors by preventing the formation of new blood vessels and by inducing apoptosis of the cells making up the tumors.

Investigators at the University of Pittsburgh (PA, USA) added the plant compound phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) to the diets of mammary tumor virus–neu mice, a mouse model for human breast cancer.

They reported in the August 2, 2012, online edition of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that administration of PEITC for 29 weeks was associated with a 53.13% decreased incidence of macroscopic mammary tumors in these cancer-prone animals.

PEITC-mediated mammary cancer growth inhibition was not because of suppression of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 expression but was associated with reduced cellular proliferation and neoangiogenesis, increased apoptosis, and altered expression of several proteins, including decreased ATP synthase in the tumor and increased plasma levels of transthyretin.

"Although PEITC administration does not confer complete protection against mammary carcinogenesis, mice placed on the PEITC-supplemented diet, compared with mice placed on the control diet, clearly exhibited suppression of carcinoma progression," said first author Dr. Shivendra V Singh, professor of pharmacology at the University of Pittsburgh. "PEITC was also well-tolerated. Since chemoprevention trials are both expensive and time-consuming and necessitate years of follow-up, the discovery of biomarkers associated with exposure and activity is critical for clinical development of promising cancer chemopreventative agents."

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