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Watercress may 'turn off' breast cancer signal

Date:
September 14, 2010
Source:
University of Southampton
Summary:
New research has revealed that a plant compound in watercress may have the ability to suppress breast cancer cell development by "turning off" a signal in the body and thereby starving the growing tumor of essential blood and oxygen.
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New scientific research from the University of Southampton has revealed that a plant compound in watercress may have the ability to suppress breast cancer cell development by 'turning off' a signal in the body and thereby starving the growing tumour of essential blood and oxygen.

The research, unveiled at a press conference Sept. 14, 2010, shows that the watercress compound is able to interfere with the function of a protein which plays a critical role in cancer development.

As tumours develop they rapidly outgrow their existing blood supply so they send out signals which make surrounding normal tissues grow new blood vessels into the tumour which feed them oxygen and nutrients.

The research, led by Professor Graham Packham of the University of Southampton, shows that the plant compound (called phenylethyl isothiocyanate) found in watercress can block this process, by interfering with and 'turning off' in the function of a protein called Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF).

Professor Packham, a molecular oncologist at the University of Southampton, comments: "The research takes an important step towards understanding the potential health benefits of this crop since it shows that eating watercress may interfere with a pathway that has already been tightly linked to cancer development.

"Knowing the risk factors for cancer is a key goal and studies on diet are an important part of this. However, relatively little work is being performed in the UK on the links between the foods we eat and cancer development."

Working with Barbara Parry, Senior Research Dietician at the Winchester and Andover Breast Unit, Professor Packham performed a pilot study in which a small group of breast cancer survivors, underwent a period of fasting before eating 80g of watercress (a cereal bowl full) and then providing a series of blood samples over the next 24 hours.

The research team was able to detect significant levels of the plant compound PEITC in the blood of the participants following the watercress meal, and most importantly, could show that the function of the protein HIF was also measurably affected in the blood cells of the women.

The two studies, which have been published in the British Journal of Nutrition and Biochemical Pharmacology, provide new insight into the potential anti-cancer effects of watercress, although more work still needs to be done to determine the direct impact watercress has on decreasing cancer risk.

Watercress Alliance member Dr Steve Rothwell says: "We are very excited by the outcome of Professor Packham's work, which builds on the body of research which supports the idea that watercress may have an important role to play in limiting cancer development."

A summary of the research has been accepted for inclusion in the Breast Cancer Research Conference which is taking place in Nottingham from 15 to 17 September.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the western world and currently affects approximately 1 in 9 women during their lifetime.


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Southampton. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal References:

  1. Sharifah S. Syed Alwi, Breeze E. Cavell, Urvi Telang, Marilyn E. Morris, Barbara M. Parry, Graham Packham. In vivo modulation of 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) phosphorylation by watercress: a pilot study. British Journal of Nutrition, 2010; 1 DOI: 10.1017/S0007114510002217
  2. Xiu-Hong Wang, Breeze E. Cavell, Sharifah S. Syed Alwi, Graham Packham. Inhibition of hypoxia inducible factor by phenethyl isothiocyanate. Biochemical Pharmacology, 2009; 78 (3): 261 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2009.04.010

Cite This Page:

University of Southampton. "Watercress may 'turn off' breast cancer signal." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 September 2010. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100914115240.htm>.
University of Southampton. (2010, September 14). Watercress may 'turn off' breast cancer signal. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 7, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100914115240.htm
University of Southampton. "Watercress may 'turn off' breast cancer signal." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100914115240.htm (accessed October 7, 2024).

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