Chapter 11. Reduced Growth of Human Breast and Prostate Cancer Cells in vitro by Extracts from Different Tomato Varieties and from Broccoli
Abstract
The human breast (SK-BR-3) and prostate (DU-145) cancer cell lines were exposed to extracts from five tomato varieties (Proton, Sejk, 441, 444, and 447) and broccoli. An original standard method has been developed, yielding products which are suitable for the cell cultures, and enable the product comparison of the tested vegetable varieties.
The effects of the extracts upon the growth rates and thus proliferation of breast and prostate cancer cells were tested in 45 (KB1 - KB45) and 75 (KP1 - KP75) cultivations, respectively. Extracts from Proton and Sejk varieties and from broccoli decreased breast cancer cell numbers, after 48 hr of cultivation, by 30%, 26% and 45%, respectively, compared to controls.
The simultaneous action of tomatoes and broccoli products was cumulative, and with Sejk reached a maximum 66% inhibitory effect on the growth of breast cancer cells. Extracts from five tomato varieties decreased prostate cancer cell numbers within a range from 18% (447) to 36% (441) and a broccoli extract decreased the prostate cell numbers by 13%.
The magnitude of individual inhibitory effects was not proportional to concentrations of lycopene, as a prominent carotenoid, achieved by the respective varieties in cellular cultures. The simultaneous action of tomatoes and broccoli products was as well cumulative as in experiments with breast cancer cells.
Results prove the breaking power of the tomato varieties and broccoli extracts on cell growth in two different cancer cell lines, representing two common and serious tumor diseases. The cumulative inhibitory effect of simultaneously acting tomato and broccoli emphasizes the benefits of a mixture of phytochemotherapeutical extracts, or of a combination of various micronutrients.
In contradiction, the Proton tomato extract revealed counter-effects, inhibiting the breast cancer cell growth after 48 hr of cultivation by 118% (as the percentage difference of control and experimental growth rates), but stimulated human fetal cell growth after 89 hr of cultivation by 80%. For this tomato stimulatory effect on nontransformed fetal cells (in analogy with an action of phytohaemagglutinin, routinely used as a mitogen during clinical karyotyping) the Czech Patent Office granted a Utility Model No.: CZ 20005 U1.