SCHOLAR 1: Cancer Lett 1994 Dec 9;87(2):159-62 Inhibition of invasion of murine mammary carcinoma cells by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. Scholar EM, Toews ML. Department of Pharmacology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198-6260. Tyrosine kinases are ubiquitous enzymes that have been shown to be involved in many cellular functions, including growth and differentiation. Recent studies have shown that they are also involved in integrin signal transduction pathways. Since integrins are known to be involved in cellular adhesion and thus in invasion and metastasis, the possible involvement of tyrosine kinases in invasion was tested. Tumor cell invasion was measured using filter inserts coated with Matrigel, a substance that closely resembles the natural basement membrane. A highly metastatic subline of BALB/c mammary carcinoma (410.4) cells was shown to invade nearly three times as much as a low metastatic subline (168.1). Genistein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases, was found to inhibit invasion of 410.4 cells with an EC50 of approximately 1 microM. At a concentration of 37 microM, there was almost complete inhibition of invasion by genistein, whereas the structural analog, daidzein, which does not inhibit tyrosine kinases, had only a small effect. At higher concentrations (370 microM), daidzein also caused marked inhibition. Genistein was able to inhibit invasion at concentrations having little effect on cell growth. However, for daidzein, most of the effect on invasion was apparently due to its effect on growth inhibition. The relatively specific effect of genistein to inhibit tumor invasion suggests a role for tyrosine phosphorylation in this process. Genistein or other tyrosine kinase inhibitors may be effective inhibitors of tumor invasion and metastasis. PMID: 7812935 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
2: Nutr Cancer 1989;12(2):121-6 The effect of diets enriched in cabbage and collards on murine pulmonary metastasis. Scholar EM, Wolterman K, Birt DF, Bresnick E. Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68105-1065. Feeding mice with diets enriched in dried cruciferous vegetables (cabbage and collards) resulted in a significant decrease in the number of pulmonary metastases after the animals were injected intravenously with mammary tumor cells. No differences in weight gain or calorie consumption were seen between the mice fed the different diets. These results support other evidence that diets high in cruciferous vegetables may be beneficial in cancer prevention. PMID: 2710654 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
TALALAY 4: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1998 Dec;7(12):1091-100 Human metabolism and excretion of cancer chemoprotective glucosinolates and isothiocyanates of cruciferous vegetables. Shapiro TA, Fahey JW, Wade KL, Stephenson KK, Talalay P. Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. Isothiocyanates and their naturally occurring glucosinolate precursors are widely consumed as part of a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables. When plant cells are damaged, glucosinolates are released and converted to isothiocyanates by the enzyme myrosinase. Many isothiocyanates inhibit the neoplastic effects of various carcinogens at a number of organ sites. Consequently, these agents are attracting attention as potential chemoprotectors against cancer. As a prerequisite to understanding the mechanism of the protective effects of these compounds, which is thought to involve the modulation of carcinogen metabolism by the induction of phase 2 detoxication enzymes and the inhibition of phase 1 carcinogen-activating enzymes, we examined the fate of ingested isothiocyanates and glucosinolates in humans. Recently developed novel methods for quantifying isothiocyanates (and glucosinolates after their quantitative conversion to isothiocyanates by purified myrosinase) and their urinary metabolites (largely dithiocarbamates) have made possible a detailed examination of the fates of isothiocyanates and glucosinolates of dietary crucifers. In a series of studies in normal volunteers, we made these findings. First, in nonsmokers, urinary dithiocarbamates were detected only after the consumption of cruciferous vegetables and condiments rich in isothiocyanates and/or glucosinolates. In sharp contrast, the consumption of noncrucifers (corn, tomatoes, green beans, and carrots) did not lead to the excretion of dithiocarbamates. Moreover, the quantities of dithiocarbamates excreted were related to the glucosinolate/isothiocyanate profiles of the cruciferous vegetables administered (kale, broccoli, green cabbage, and turnip roots). Second, eating prepared horseradish containing graded doses of isothiocyanates (12.3-74 micromol; mostly allyl isothiocyanate) led to a rapid excretion of proportionate amounts (42-44%) of urinary dithiocarbamates with first-order kinetics. The ingestion of broccoli in which myrosinase had been heat-inactivated also led to proportionate but low (10-20%) recoveries of urinary dithiocarbamates. Broccoli samples subsequently treated with myrosinase to produce the cognate isothiocyanates were much more completely (47%) converted to dithiocarbamates. Finally, when bowel microflora were reduced by mechanical cleansing and antibiotics, the conversion of glucosinolates became negligible. These results establish that humans convert substantial amounts of isothiocyanates and glucosinolates to urinary dithiocarbamates that can be easily quantified, thus paving the way for meaningful studies of phase 2 enzyme induction in humans. PMID: 9865427 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
7: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1997 Sep 16;94(19):10367-72 Broccoli sprouts: an exceptionally rich source of inducers of enzymes that protect against chemical carcinogens. Fahey JW, Zhang Y, Talalay P. Brassica Chemoprotection Laboratory and Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Induction of phase 2 detoxication enzymes [e.g., glutathione transferases, epoxide hydrolase, NAD(P)H: quinone reductase, and glucuronosyltransferases] is a powerful strategy for achieving protection against carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, and other forms of toxicity of electrophiles and reactive forms of oxygen. Since consumption of large quantities of fruit and vegetables is associated with a striking reduction in the risk of developing a variety of malignancies, it is of interest that a number of edible plants contain substantial quantities of compounds that regulate mammalian enzymes of xenobiotic metabolism. Thus, edible plants belonging to the family Cruciferae and genus Brassica (e.g., broccoli and cauliflower) contain substantial quantities of isothiocyanates (mostly in the form of their glucosinolate precursors) some of which (e.g., sulforaphane or 4-methylsulfinylbutyl isothiocyanate) are very potent inducers of phase 2 enzymes. Unexpectedly, 3-day-old sprouts of cultivars of certain crucifers including broccoli and cauliflower contain 10-100 times higher levels of glucoraphanin (the glucosinolate of sulforaphane) than do the corresponding mature plants. Glucosinolates and isothiocyanates can be efficiently extracted from plants, without hydrolysis of glucosinolates by myrosinase, by homogenization in a mixture of equal volumes of dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, and acetonitrile at -50 degrees C. Extracts of 3-day-old broccoli sprouts (containing either glucoraphanin or sulforaphane as the principal enzyme inducer) were highly effective in reducing the incidence, multiplicity, and rate of development of mammary tumors in dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-treated rats. Notably, sprouts of many broccoli cultivars contain negligible quantities of indole glucosinolates, which predominate in the mature vegetable and may give rise to degradation products (e.g., indole-3-carbinol) that can enhance tumorigenesis. Hence, small quantities of crucifer sprouts may protect against the risk of cancer as effectively as much larger quantities of mature vegetables of the same variety. PMID: 9294217 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
8: Toxicol Lett 1995 Dec;82-83:173-9 Chemoprotection against cancer by phase 2 enzyme induction. Talalay P, Fahey JW, Holtzclaw WD, Prestera T, Zhang Y. Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Mammalian cells have evolved elaborate mechanisms for protection against the toxic and neoplastic effects of electrophilic metabolites of carcinogens and reactive oxygen species. Phase 2 enzymes (e.g. glutathione transferase, NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferases) and high intracellular levels of glutathione play a prominent role in providing such protection. Phase 2 enzymes are transcriptionally induced by low concentrations of a wide variety of chemical agents and such induction blocks chemical carcinogenesis. The inducers belong to many chemical classes including phenolic antioxidants. Michael reaction acceptors, isothiocyanates, 1,2-dithiole-3-thiones, trivalent arsenicals, HgCl2 and organomercurials, hydroperoxides, and vicinal dimercaptans. Induction by all classes of inducers involves the antioxidant/electrophile response element (ARE/EpRE). Inducers are widely, but unequally, distributed among edible plants. Search for such inducer activity in broccoli led to the isolation of sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate that is a very potent Phase 2 enzyme inducer and blocks mammary tumor formation in rats. Publication Types: Review Review, tutorial PMID: 8597048 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
10: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1994 Apr 12;91(8):3147-50 Anticarcinogenic activities of sulforaphane and structurally related synthetic norbornyl isothiocyanates. Zhang Y, Kensler TW, Cho CG, Posner GH, Talalay P. Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205. Sulforaphane [1-isothiocyanato-4-(methyl-sulfinyl)butane] was recently isolated from one variety of broccoli as the major and very potent inducer of phase 2 detoxication enzymes in murine hepatoma cells in culture. Since phase 2 enzyme induction is often associated with reduced susceptibility of animals and their cells to the toxic and neoplastic effects of carcinogens and other electrophiles, it was important to establish whether sulforaphane could block chemical carcinogenesis. In this paper we report that sulforaphane and three synthetic analogues, designed as potent phase 2 enzyme inducers, block the formation of mammary tumors in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with single doses of 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene. The analogues are exo-2-acetyl-exo-6-isothiocyanatonorbornane, endo-2-acetyl-exo-6-isothiocyanatonorbornane, and exo-2-acetyl-exo-5-isothiocyanatonorbornane. When sulforaphane and exo-2-acetyl-exo-6-isothiocyanatonorbornane were administered by gavage (75 or 150 mumol per day for 5 days) around the time of exposure to the carcinogen, the incidence, multiplicity, and weight of mammary tumors were significantly reduced, and their development was delayed. The analogues endo-2-acetyl-exo-6-isothiocyanatonorbornane and exo-2-acetyl-exo-5-isothiocyanatonorbornane were less potent protectors. Thus, a class of functionalized isothiocyanates with anticarcinogenic properties has been identified. These results validate the thesis that inducers of phase 2 enzymes in cultured cells are likely to protect against carcinogenesis. PMID: 8159717 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
11: Cancer Res 1994 Apr 1;54(7 Suppl):1976s-1981s Anticarcinogenic activities of organic isothiocyanates: chemistry and mechanisms. Zhang Y, Talalay P. Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205. Organic isothiocyanates block the production of tumors induced in rodents by diverse carcinogens (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, azo dyes, ethionine, N-2-fluorenylacetamide, and nitrosamines). Protection is afforded by alpha-naphthyl-, beta-naphthyl-, phenyl-, benzyl-, phenethyl-, and other arylalkyl isothiocyanates against tumor development in liver, lung, mammary gland, forestomach, and esophagus. Many isothiocyanates and their glucosinolate precursors (beta-thioglucoside, N-hydroxysulfate) occur naturally and sometimes abundantly in plants consumed by humans, e.g., cruciferous vegetables. Nevertheless, the possible contributions of isothiocyanates and glucosinolates to the well recognized protective effects against cancer of high consumptions of vegetables are unclear. The anticarcinogenic effects of isothiocyanates appear to be mediated by tandem and cooperating mechanisms: (a) suppression of carcinogen activation by cytochromes P-450, probably by a combination of down-regulation of enzyme levels and direct inhibition of their catalytic activities, which thereby lower the levels of ultimate carcinogens formed; and (b) induction of Phase 2 enzymes such as glutathione transferases and NAD(P)H: quinone reductase, which detoxify any residual electrophilic metabolites generated by Phase 1 enzymes and thereby destroy their ability to damage DNA. Since isothiocyanates block carcinogenesis by dual mechanisms and are already present in substantial quantities in human diets, these agents are ideal candidates for the development of effective chemoprotection of humans against cancer. Publication Types: Review Review, tutorial PMID: 8137323 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
15: Adv Enzyme Regul 1989;28:237-50 Mechanisms of induction of enzymes that protect against chemical carcinogenesis. Talalay P. Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205. A persuasive body of evidence indicates that substantial protection against chemical carcinogenesis can be achieved by induction of enzymes concerned with the metabolism of carcinogens. There are two classes of anticarcinogenic enzyme inducers: (a) monofunctional inducers (e.g., phenolic antioxidants, isothiocyanates, coumarins, thiocarbamates, cinnamates, 1,2-dithiol-3-thiones) that elevate Phase II enzymes (such as glutathione S-transferases, NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, UDP-glucuronosyl-transferases) in various tissues without significantly raising the Phase I enzyme, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (cytochrome P1-450); and (b) bifunctional inducers (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, flavonoids, and azo dyes) that induce both Phase I and Phase II enzymes of xenobiotic metabolism. Induction of Phase II enzymes appears to be a sufficient condition for achieving chemoprotection, and since certain Phase I enzymes are responsible for activating carcinogens to their ultimate reactive forms, selective Phase II enzyme inducers offer intrinsically safer prospects for achieving chemoprotection. Whereas induction of both Phase I and II enzymes by bifunctional inducers depends on the Ah receptor, induction of Phase II enzymes by monofunctional inducers is independent of a functional Ah receptor. Studies on the structural requirements for induction of quinone reductase [NAD(P)H:(quinone acceptor) oxidoreductase; EC 1.6.99.2] by monofunctional inducers in Hepa 1c1c7 murine hepatoma cells have revealed that such inducers contain a distinctive chemical feature (or acquire this feature by metabolism) that regulates the synthesis of this protective enzyme. The inducers are all Michael reaction acceptors characterized by olefinic (or acetylenic) linkages that are rendered electrophilic by conjugation with electron-withdrawing groups. Typical examples are alpha, beta-unsaturated aldehydes, ketones (including quinones), thioketones, sulfones, esters, nitriles and nitro groups. The potency of these inducers parallels their reactivity as Michael acceptors. These generalizations have provided mechanistic insight into the vexing question of how so many seemingly unrelated anticarcinogens induce chemoprotective enzymes. They have also led to the prediction of entirely new and unsuspected structures of inducers, with potential for chemoprotective activity. Publication Types: Review Review literature PMID: 2696344 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
16: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1985 Dec;82(23):8232-6 On the mechanisms of induction of cancer-protective enzymes: a unifying proposal. Prochaska HJ, De Long MJ, Talalay P. Induction of detoxification enzymes is a major mechanism whereby a wide variety of chemical agents protect rodents against neoplastic, mutagenic, and other toxicities of carcinogens. The enzyme NAD(P)H:(quinone acceptor) oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.99.2) can protect against the toxicities of quinones and is a useful marker for protective enzyme induction. Quinone reductase can be induced in murine Hepa 1c1c7 hepatoma cells and 3T3 embryo fibroblasts by compounds that are chemoprotectors in vivo, including some phenolic antioxidants, azo dyes, aromatic diamines, and aminophenols. Structurally dissimilar catechols (1,2-diphenols) and hydroquinones (1,4-diphenols) induce quinone reductase in these systems, but resorcinol (1,3-diphenol) and its substituted analogues are inactive. Furthermore, only aromatic 1,2- and 1,4-diamines and aminophenols are inducers, whereas the 1,3-diamines are completely inactive. These findings suggest that the functional capacity to form quinones or quinone-diimines, rather than the precise structure, is essential for inductive activity and that the generation of the signal for enzyme induction depends upon oxidation-reduction lability. The observations that some chemoprotective compounds (e.g., azo dyes, beta-naphthoflavone) induce both cytochromes P-450 and quinone reductase, whereas others (e.g., tert-butylhydroquinone) induce only quinone reductase, can be reconciled by the fact that inducers of the first type are metabolized by P-450 enzymes to form products that are functionally similar to compounds of the second type. PMID: 3934671 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]