研究發現:多吃西蘭花有助於減緩乳癌細胞成長

A compound found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables has been found to slow the growth of breast cancer cells, especially at early stages.

一項研究發現，含有西蘭花及其它十字花科蔬菜的混合製劑，有助於減緩乳腺癌細胞的生長，尤其是在發病早期。

While sulforaphane has long shown evidence of value in cancer prevention, researchers at Oregon State University (OSU) and the Oregon Health and Science University suggested in a new study that it may play a role in slowing cancer growth as well.

花椰菜和其他十字花科蔬菜含有的蘿蔔硫素長期以來就被證明具有防癌價值，而據俄勒岡州立大學及俄勒岡衛生與科學大學聯合進行的新研究顯示，蘿蔔硫素還能減緩癌細胞的擴散。

The findings were the result of the first clinical studies to look at the effect of sulforaphane on breast tissues of women diagnosed with breast cancer.

這項研究測試了蘿蔔硫素對患有乳腺癌女性的乳腺組織的效果，而該新發現正是第一次臨牀應用後所得出的結論。

Emily Ho, a professor at the OSU College of Public Health and Human Sciences, said "our original goal was to determine if sulforaphane supplements would be well tolerated and might alter some of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in cancer."

俄勒岡州立大學公共衛生和人文科學學院的教授何艾米麗說：“我們最初的目標是想確認蘿蔔硫素補充劑是否有很好的耐受性，並看它是否能改變與癌症相關的表觀遺傳機制。”

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 54 women with abnormal mammograms were given either a placebo or supplements that provided sulforaphane. The amount of sulforaphane they received would equate to about one cup of broccoli sprouts per day, if eaten as a food.

在一個雙盲的、隨機的、安慰劑對照試驗中，科研人員向54名乳房X光出現異常的婦女分發含有蘿蔔硫素的安慰劑或營養片劑，每一片安慰劑或營養片劑所含的蘿蔔硫素成分相等於一天一杯的花椰菜芽分量。

"We were surprised to see a decrease in markers of cell growth, which means these compounds may help slow cancer cell growth," said Ho. "This is very encouraging. Dietary approaches have traditionally been thought to be limited to cancer prevention, but this demonstrated it could help slow the growth of existing tumors."

何艾米莉教授說：“讓我們感到意外的是，癌細胞標記明顯在下降，這意味着這些成分有助於減緩癌細胞增長。這個結果非常鼓舞人心。一直以來，人們以爲飲食療法僅限於預防癌症，但這項研究證明，它也能減緩已有的癌細胞的擴散。”

Previous studies have found that women with a high intake of cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage or kale, have a decreased risk of breast cancer. In particular, sulforaphane appears to inhibit histone deacetylases, or HDACs, which in turn enhances the expression of tumor suppressor genes that are often silenced in cancer cells.

先前的研究顯示，女性多食用西蘭花、菜花、捲心菜、羽衣甘藍等十字花科蔬菜，可以降低患乳腺癌的風險。特別要指出的是，蘿蔔硫素可以抑制組蛋白脫乙酰酶或HDACs，反過來又能促進原本在癌細胞內的不活潑的腫瘤抑制基因的增長。

Researchers said additional studies are needed to evaluate dose responses, work with larger populations, and examine the responses of other relevant molecular targets to either foods or supplements containing sulforaphane.

相關工作人員表示，目前還需要進行大量的研究來評估劑量反應及更廣泛的人羣的適應性，並確認其他相關的分子——無論是食物或是補充劑——的反饋效果。