Scientists have developed a new treatment designed to combat breast cancer derived from a natural compound found in broccoli, Brussels sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables.
The compound, known as C-Dim (short for C-substituted diindolylmethane), has been found to have significant anticancer properties and proved effective in targeting so-called triple-negative breast cancer, which accounts for up to one in five cases in the U.S.
The findings, reported at a meeting of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists in Chicago, could point the way for new treatments for the disease — an aggressive form of breast cancer that grows faster, spreads to other parts of the body earlier, is harder to detect on a mammogram, and recurs more often than other types.
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Researchers from Florida A&M University and Texas A&M University said their studies found that C-Dim not only fights tumors, but can boost the effectiveness of existing anticancer drugs and decrease the number of treatments a patient must receive.
What’s more, C-Dim can be given to patients in pill form — unlike most chemotherapy medications — so they can be easier to take on a daily basis.
"Targeted treatment options for [triple-negative breast cancer] are limited; current treatments, such as infusions, result in poor patient compliance and increased toxicity," said Mandip Sachdeva, a researcher with Florida A&M University. "We are confident that the compounds we are currently working with are an effective treatment … [and] are safer for the patient than current treatments available."