Prevention and treatment of cancer with indole-3-carbinol.
Indole-3-carbinol (I-3-C) is a naturally occurring constituent of many plant foods. Oral administration of I-3-C has been shown to manipulate estrogen metabolism in humans in a possibly beneficial manner. I-3-C increases the 2/16-hydroxyestrone ratio, a ratio found to be predictive of breast cancer risk in some prospective studies. Animal and in vitro studies have identified a number of other possibly beneficial effects of I-3-C and its metabolites, including inhibition of estrogen binding and modulation of oncogene expression. A chemopreventive effect of I-3-C has been demonstrated in a number of animal models. Some chemical carcinogenesis models have found a tumor promoting effect of I-3-C, however. Epidemiological studies support the hypothesis that high intakes of I-3-C may have broad chemopreventive effect. Preliminary human trials have demonstrated that I-3-C is well tolerated and has a sustained estrogen modifying effect. I-3-C is a good candidate for clinical trial in women at increased risk of developing breast cancer.
Brignall
M S
MS
Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, Kirkland, WA, USA. drMatt@EIMed.com
D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001937:Brassica; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D004967:Estrogens; D007211:Indoles; C016517:indole-3-carbinol