MAASTRICHT, The Netherlands--Vegetables can lower the risk of lung cancer by affecting the expression of genes involved in cancer development, according to a new study published in the Journal of Nutrition(135:2456-52, 2005).
Researchers from Maastricht University investigated this lung cancer protection, using cDNA microarray technology to study the effect of vegetables on gene expression in female mice. For two weeks, mice were given one of eight different diets: a control diet containing no vegetables; a diet containing either 70 g/kg cauliflower, 73 g/kg carrots, 226 g/kg peas or 31 g/kg onions; or a diet containing either 100 g/kg, 200 g/kg or 400 g/kg of vegetable mixture (consisting of the four vegetables). Post-mortem analysis entailed RNA isolation from the mouse lungs for investigation of expression of 602 genes involved in pathways of carcinogenesis.
The results showed individual vegetables, compared to the vegetable mixture, have a higher potential of modulating genes in favor of lung cancer prevention; carrots affected the most number of genes. The pathways involved included cell growth, apoptosis, biotransformation, and immune response. The researchers concluded this study provides more insight into the genetic mechanisms by which vegetables, in particular carrots, can prevent lung cancer risk.
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