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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 today (14 September 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,a process called angiogenesis, into the tumour which feed them oxygen and nutrients. Angiogenesis is the physiological process involving the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels.It is a normal and vital process in growth and development, as well as in wound healing. However, it is also a fundamental step in the transition of tumors from a dormant state to a malignant one.
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’ the function of a protein called Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF).HIF is a transcription factor that responds to decreases in oxygen levels or hypoxia,in the cellular environment.”
“Dietary intake of isothiocyanates (ITC) has been associated with reduced cancer risk. The dietary phenethyl ITC (PEITC) has previously been shown to decrease the phosphorylation of the translation regulator 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1). Decreased 4E-BP1 phosphorylation has been linked to the inhibition of cancer cell survival and decreased activity of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), a key positive regulator of angiogenesis, and may therefore contribute to potential anti-cancer effects of PEITC.”[1] The current study examined the the in vitro and in vivo effects of watercress, which is a rich source of PEITC.
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 healthy participants who had previously been treated for breast cancer, 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 researchers stated that “dietary intake of watercress may be sufficient to modulate this potential anti-cancer pathway”.However “further investigations with larger numbers of participants are required to confirm these findings”.[1]
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.[1,2,3]The findings build on studies that have shown people who vegetables rich in isothiocyanates, such as broccoli and cabbage, are at lower risk of developing cancer [4]
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.
Sources:
[3] Press release:http://www.soton.ac.uk/mediacentre/news/2010/sep/10_94.shtml
[4]Compounds in broccoli, cauliflower, and watercress block lung cancer progression
Further Reading:
Five reasons you should eat watercress
Dietary Chemopreventive Phytochemicals: Too Little or Too Much?
Watercress Recipes
http://www.watercress.co.uk/recipes/
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