Researchers have found that a compound called sulforaphane, which is found in some vegetables, can help destroy up to 75% of malignant bowel cancer tumours.

This discovery has been found after a study conducted by researchers at Penn State University in the US. This new discovery could help revolutionize cancer treatments in the future and could represent a significant step forward in the ongoing fight against the disease.

How Sulforaphane Works

Researchers have found that sulforaphane works by inhibiting enzymes called histone deacetylases that contribute to the development and progression of cancer.

Histone deacetylases have been known to erase certain chemical tags that keep tumour-suppressing genes active. This means that as cancer cells multiply, the genes that would normally slow or stop their growth are switched off.

However, sulforaphane helps by preventing these enzymes from inhibiting these cancer-suppressing genes, allowing them to keep working as they should.

This means that cancer cells are unable to multiply as effectively and are much more likely to die off.

The Research Behind Sulforaphane

Researchers at Penn State University conducted tests on human cancer cells and found that the sulforaphane compound decreased the cancer cells’ ability to grow by around 75% compared to cells that were not treated with the compound.

The findings were published in the journal Epigenetics & Chromatin.

The tests show that sulforaphane works to inhibit the histone deacetylases and prevent them from working on the problem areas. This means that the cancer cells can’t multiply as effectively and are much more likely to die off.

The sulforaphane was also found to be particularly effective in tackling the stem cells that are able to regenerate new cancer cells, which is often the reason why bowel cancer can be so difficult to treat.

Which Vegetables Contain Sulforaphane?

Vegetables that contain sulforaphane include broccoli sprouts, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and kale. Consuming these regularly could help reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer.

Additionally, sulforaphane has been found to be effective in treating other types of cancer, including prostate cancer.

Previous research has also proven that a diet rich in fibre and vegetables, and low in processed foods, red meat, and excessive alcohol consumption, significantly lowers the risk of developing bowel cancer.

Further Research into Bowel Cancer

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide and is particularly prevalent in developed countries.

In the US, it is the second leading cause of cancer death, and it is estimated that over 100,000 individuals will be diagnosed with the disease in the US in 2020 alone. With the rising rate of bowel cancer diagnosis, researchers are actively looking for new treatments and preventative measures.

The discovery of sulforaphane and its effects on cancer cells is a significant step forward in the battle against the disease.

Researchers hope that this discovery will help lead to the development of new treatments, including medications and modified foods, that contain sulforaphane.

These treatments could help destroy cancer cells while minimizing the harm caused to healthy cells, which would be a significant improvement over traditional chemotherapy drugs that can cause a great deal of harm to healthy cells in addition to the cancerous ones.

Conclusion

Sulforaphane, a compound found in some vegetables, could significantly help with the fight against bowel cancer, new research has found.

By inhibiting histone deacetylases and allowing tumour-suppressing genes to keep working, sulforaphane could destroy up to 75% of malignant bowel cancer tumours.

In addition to consuming vegetables containing sulforaphane, adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes a diet rich in fibre and low in processed foods, red meat, and excessive alcohol consumption could be beneficial to reducing the risk of developing bowel cancer. Furthermore, continued research into bowel cancer and more effective ways to prevent and cure the disease is necessary to improve the prognosis and treatment options for those diagnosed with the disease.