2011 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) Identify compounds in potatoes that have nutritional or health-promoting value. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Diverse potato germplasm will be analyzed by LCMS to determine phytonutrient content. Potato extracts will be tested for anti-cancer activity using human cell cultures. 3.Progress Report Due to negative media coverage, some consumers have negative views of the healthfulness of potatoes. Our previous results showed that potato extracts had chemopreventitive properties when assayed in human prostate cancer cell lines and we are now using a mouse model to follow up. Mice did not tolerate the injections of potato extracts, but did tolerate gavage. Following tumor development, the mice were randomized by tumor volume and weight and placed into three treatment groups, which included treatment with water or extracts from S. bulbocastanum or CO112F2-2 (a purple fleshed selection). Neither purple nor white potato extracts affected weight gain or the weight of vital organs (liver, kidney and lung), indicating that these extracts are not toxic. No differences in tumor growth rate and tumor volume were observed. Western blots are being conducted to look for proteins related to metastasis and angiogenesis and there appears to be some minor, but notable, differences in expression. This study will clarify whether potatoes have compound with activity against prostate cancer. This project contributes to objective 3 of the parent project through identification of superior germplasm for potato disease and pest-resistance, phytonutrients, minerals, and vitamins. This project was monitored through phone calls and emails.