Indole-3-carbinol kills ovarian cancer cells and boosts chemotherapy In a study presented at the thirty-second annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists held this month, researchers from North Shore/Long Island Jewish Research Institute and North Shore/Long Island University Hospital presented the results of a National Cancer Institute funded study that showed indole-3-carbinol and its product diindolylmethane (DIM) both had a toxic effect on ovarian cancer cells in vitro. Indole-3-carbinol is a phytonutrient found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage that has been demonstrated to have cancer preventive properties as well as the ability to slow the progression of some cancers. The authors note that it is currently being used to prevent human papilloma virus related cancers. Two ovarian cancer cell lines were treated with indole-3-carbinol or DIM in various concentrations for two to four days. Cell viability was measured by mitochondrial function. Both indole-3-carbinol and DIM showed toxicity to both lines after a two day period. The two substances were then combined with the cancer chemotherapy drug cis-platinum to test their effects. Both compounds enhanced the toxicity of the drug toward the cancer cell line known as OVCAR-3, known to be resistant to cis-platinum. The combination of cis-platinum and another chemotherapeutic drug, paclitaxel, was able to kill 70% of the ovarian cancer cells in this line, but when diindoylmethane was added it resulted in complete destruction of the cells. Diindoylmethane alone in one concentration was able to kill all of the cells in the other ovarian cancer cell line in a matter of four days. The researchers believe that both indole-3-carbinol and diindoylmethane will prove useful as adjunctive agents in ovarian cancer management and note that further studies are in progress. Thanks to Life Extension Foundation for this story www.lef.org March 2001 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.