Changing Genes: Garlic Shown to Inhibit DNA Damaging Chemical in Breast Cancer
(Abstract #2543)
Legend suggests that garlic may ward off evil spirits, such as vampires. Now
scientists are finding that garlic, or a flavor component of pungent herb, may
help ward off carcinogens produced by meat cooked at high temperatures. Cooking
protein-rich foods like meats and eggs at high temperatures releases a chemical
called PhIP, a suspected carcinogen. Epidemiological studies have shown that the
incidence of breast cancer is higher among women who eat large quantities of
meat, although fat and caloric intake and hormone exposure may contribute to
this increased risk. Diallyl sulfide (DAS), a flavor component of garlic, has
been shown to inhibit the effects of PhIP that, when biologically active, can
cause DNA damage or transform substances in the body into carcinogens. Ronald D.
Thomas, Ph.D., and a team of researchers at Florida A&M University in
Tallahassee hypothesized that PhIP enhances the metabolism of the enzymes linked
to carcinogenesis. They further suggested that the diallyl sulfide derived from
garlic might counter this activity. "We treated human breast epithelial cells
with equal amounts of PhIP and DAS separately, and the two together, for periods
ranging from three to 24 hours," said Thomas. "PhIP induced expression of the
cancer-causing enzyme at every stage, up to 40-fold, while DAS completely
inhibited the PhIP enzyme from becoming carcinogenic." The finding demonstrates
for the first time that DAS triggers a gene alteration in PhIP that may play a
significant role in preventing cancer, notably breast cancer, induced by PhIP in
well-done meats. Thomas noted that no studies have shown a link between cooking
vegetables and fruits and PhIP, regardless of the method used.
Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research is a professional
society of more than 24,000 laboratory, translational, and clinical scientists
engaged in all areas of cancer research in the United States and in more than 60
other countries. AACR's mission is to accelerate the prevention and cure of
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activities include the publication of five major peer-reviewed scientific
journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer
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Prevention. AACR's Annual Meetings attract nearly 16,000 participants who share
new and significant discoveries in the cancer field. Specialty meetings, held
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research.
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Diallyl Sulfide Antagonizes PhIP Induced Alterations in the Expression of Phase
I and Phase II Metabolizing Enzymes in Human Breast Epithelial Cells
Abstract # 2543, Ronald Thomas, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee.
Poster Session A. 5:30 p.m., Monday, October 31, 2005.
Elizabeth Tait
tait(a)aacr.org
American Association for Cancer Research aacr.org