title: Sulforaphane induces growth arrest and apoptosis in human ovarian cancer cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Isothiocyanates (ITC) from broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables have long been shown to have chemopreventive properties, as demonstrated in cancer models in rodents. Sulforaphane (SFN) is a major ITC present in broccoli. We examined the effects of SFN on the growth of the OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 ovarian carcinoma cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell cycle phase determination was performed using a Coulter flow cytometer. DNA strand breaks in apoptotic cells were measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated UTP nick end-labelling (TUNEL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a concentration dependent decrease in cell density. Approximately 50% decrease was observed after 48 h of incubation with SFN (2 μM). Analysis of cell cycle phase progression revealed a decrease in the cell populations in S and G2M phases, with an increase of G1 cell population, indicating a G1 cell cycle arrest. The degree of decrease in the replicating population was concentration and time dependent. Incubation of OVCAR-3 cells in cultures with concentrations of 2, 10 and 50 μM of SFN showed 6, 8 and 17% apoptosis, respectively. In addition, when OVCAR-3 cells were exposed to SFN for various time periods (1, 2 or 3 days), the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis was directly proportional to the incubation period. In this regard, while 18% of the cells underwent apoptosis after 2 days, 42% of the cells showed apoptosis after 3 days of incubation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results clearly demonstrated an effect of SFN in inducing growth arrest and apoptosis in ovarian carcinoma cell lines.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1176 Fifth Avenue, Box 1173, New York, NY 10029, USA. linus.chuang@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Linus T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Satei T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Moqattash
authors.forename: Herbert F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Gretz
authors.forename: Farr
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nezhat
authors.forename: Jamal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rahaman
authors.forename: Jen-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chiao
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002453:Cell Cycle; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D013454:Sulfoxides; D013861:Thiocyanates; C016766:sulforaphane