An important part of our research consists in characterizing the anti-cancer and anti-angiogenic potential of various molecules that occur naturally in the foods we eat every day. The goals of this research are to better understand the anti-cancer activity of these molecules and to use the results to set up an anti-cancer dietary program in order to reduce the risk of recurrence in patients in remission from cancer. To date, our work has resulted in the identification of four major classes of molecules of dietary origin with a very high anti-cancer potential: catechins in green tea [1-3], sulforaphane in broccoli [4], ellagic acid in strawberries and raspberries [5] and, more recently, anthocyanidins in blueberries [6, 7].
However, recent results indicate that, far from being limited to these foods, many other plants also possess high levels of anti-cancer activity. For example, when we compared the anti-cancer potential of several vegetables consumed on a regular basis in Quebec, we observed that vegetables in the Allium family (garlic, onions, leeks, etc.) and cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, cabbage, etc.) interfered significantly with the growth of cancer cells derived from several types of tumours [8]. Likewise, we noted that several small fruits also possess very high anti-cancer potential against a number of very aggressive cancer cell lines [9]. Finally, we even observed that certain molecules present in large quantities in herbs such as parsley and thyme also contributed to preventing cancer by interfering with the recruitment of smooth muscle cells required for the stabilization of newly formed blood vessels [10]. Anti-cancer activity associated with flavonols, molecules that occur at high levels in many fruits and vegetables, was also observed [11].
Collectively, these results bring to light the anti-cancer properties of compounds of dietary origin and provide unequivocal support for the significant preventive and therapeutic role these molecules may play.
[1] Demeule M, Annabi B, Michaud-Lévesque J, Lamy S and Béliveau R (2005) Dietary prevention of cancer: Anticancer and antiangiogenic properties of green tea polyphenols. Medicinal Chemistry Reviews. 2, 49-58
[2] Béliveau R, Gingras D. (2004) Green tea: prevention and treatment of cancer by nutraceuticals. Lancet 364, 1021-1022.
[3] Annabi B, Bouzeghrane M, Moumdjian R, Moghrabi A, Béliveau R. (2005) Probing the infiltrating character of brain tumors: inhibition of RhoA/ROK-mediated CD44 cell surface shedding from glioma cells by the green tea catechin EGCg. J. Neurochem. 94, 906-916.
[4] Gingras D, Gendron M, Boivin D, Moghrabi A, Theoret Y, Béliveau R. (2004) Induction of medulloblastoma cell apoptosis by sulforaphane, a dietary anticarcinogen from Brassica vegetables. Cancer Lett. 203, 35-43.
[5] Labrecque L, Lamy S, Chapus A, Mihoubi S, Durocher Y, Cass B, Bojanowski MW, Gingras D, Béliveau R. (2005) Combined inhibition of PDGF and VEGF receptors by ellagic acid, a dietary-derived phenolic compound. Carcinogenesis 26, 821-826.
[6] Lamy S, Blanchette M, Michaud-Levesque J, Lafleur R, Durocher Y, Moghrabi A, Barrette S, Gingras D, Béliveau R (2006) Delphinidin, a dietary anthocyaninidin, inhibits VEGFR-2 activity and in vitro angiogenesis. Carcinogenesis 27, 989-996.
[7] Lamy S, Lafleur R, Moghrabi A, Barrette S, Gingras D, Béliveau R (2006) Anthocyanidins inhibit migration of glioblastoma cells: structure-activity relationship and involvement of the plasminolytic system. J. Cell. Biochem. 100, 100-111.
[8] Boivin D, Lamy S, Jackson J, Beaulieu E, Côté M, Moghrabi A, Barrette S, Gingras D, Béliveau R (2009) Antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of common vegetables : A comparative study. Food Chem. 112, 374-380.
[9] Boivin D, Blanchette M, Barrette S, Moghrabi A, Béliveau R. (2006) Inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and suppression of TNF-induced activation of NFkappaB by edible berry juice. Anticancer Res. 27, 937-948.
[10] Lamy S, Bédard V, Labbé D, Sartelet H, Barthomeuf C, Gingras D, and Béliveau R (2008) The dietary flavones apigenin and luteolin impair smooth muscle cell migration and VEGF expression through inhibition of PDGFR-β phosphorylation. Cancer Prev. Res. 1, 470-475.
[11] Labbé D, Provençal M, Lamy S, Boivin D, Gingras D, Béliveau R (2008) The flavanols quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin inhibit hepatocyte growth factor-induced medulloblastoma cell migration. J. Nutr. (sous presse).
