ARS | Publication request: Dietary phenethyl isothiocyanate inhibition of androgen-responsive LNCaP prostate cancer cell tumor growth correlates with decreased angiogenesis

Submitted to: International Journal of Oncology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: June 20, 2011
Publication Date: May 13, 2011
Citation: Hudson, T., Perkins, S., Hursting, S., Young, H., Kim, Y., Wang, T., Wang, T.T. 2011. Dietary phenethyl isothiocyanate inhibition of androgen-responsive LNCaP prostate cancer cell tumor growth correlates with decreased angiogenesis. International Journal of Oncology. 40:1113-1121.

Interpretive Summary: The mechanisms underlying the cancer protective effects of broccoli-derived phytochemicals remain largely unclear. USDA scientists, in collaboration with scientists from the National Cancer Institute, the University of Texas, and the University of Maryland, examined the effects of the candidate cancer preventive broccoli-derived compound phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) on cultured cells, as well as in a mouse xenograft model using human-derived prostate cancer to elucidate potential mechanisms of action. PEITC, found in certain cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, has antitumor activity in several cancer models, including prostate cancer. In our xenograft model, dietary administration of PEITC (100-150 mg/kg/d) inhibited androgen-responsive LNCaP human prostate cancer cell tumor growth. The inhibition was not associated with induction of apoptosis, decreased cellular proliferation, or a decrease in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) protein level. However, dietary treatment with PEITC significantly inhibited tumor platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1/CD31) expression, a marker of angiogenesis. Thus, PEITC may be an important dietary factor that inhibits prostate tumor growth by selectively targeting factors involved in the tumor microenvironment. This work provides novel information for research scientists regarding molecular targets and mechanism(s) of the action of broccoli-derived phytochemical(s), and will serve as an important basis for future investigation of efficacies of broccoli-derived, cancer protective phytochemicals. This work will benefit basic, as well as translational research science.

Technical Abstract: Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), found in certain cruciferous vegetables, has antitumor activity in several cancer models, including prostate cancer. In our xenograft model, dietary administration of PEITC (100-150 mg/kg/d) inhibited androgen-responsive LNCaP human prostate cancer cell tumor growth. The inhibition was not associated with induction of apoptosis, decreased cellular proliferation, or a decrease in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) protein level. However, dietary treatment with PEITC significantly inhibited tumor platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1/CD31) expression, a marker of angiogenesis. Thus, PEITC may be an important dietary factor that inhibits prostate tumor growth by selectively targeting factors involved in the tumor microenvironment.