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Updated: Feb 7, 2026
miRNA Expression Analyses in Prostate Cancer Clinical Tissues
Published on: September 8, 2015
Broccoli Sprouts Delay Prostate Cancer Formation and Decrease Prostate Cancer Severity with a Concurrent Decrease in
Laura M Beaver1,2, Christiane V Lӧhr2,3, John D Clarke1,2
1School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.
Background:
Cruciferous vegetables have been associated with the chemoprevention of cancer. Epigenetic regulators have been identified as important targets for prostate cancer chemoprevention. Treatment of human prostate cancer cells with sulforaphane (SFN), a chemical from broccoli and broccoli sprouts, inhibits epigenetic regulators such as histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes, but it is not known whether consumption of a diet high in broccoli sprouts impacts epigenetic mechanisms in an in vivo model of prostate cancer.
Objective:
In the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model, we tested the hypothesis that a broccoli sprout diet suppresses prostate cancer, inhibits HDAC expression, alters histone modifications, and changes the expression of genes regulated by HDACs.
Methods:
TRAMP mice were fed a 15% broccoli sprout or control AIN93G diet; tissue samples were collected at 12 and 28 wk of age.
Results:
Mice fed broccoli sprouts had detectable amounts of SFN metabolites in liver, kidney, colon, and prostate tissues. Broccoli sprouts reduced prostate cancer incidence and progression to invasive cancer by 11- and 2.4-fold at 12 and 28 wk of age, respectively. There was a significant decline in HDAC3 protein expression in the epithelial cells of prostate ventral and anterior lobes at age 12 wk. Broccoli sprout consumption also decreased histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation in the ventral lobe (age 12 wk), and decreased histone H3 lysine 18 acetylation in all prostate lobes (age 28 wk). A decline in p16 mRNA levels, a gene regulated by HDAC3, was associated with broccoli sprout consumption, but no significant changes were noted at the protein level.
Conclusions:
Broccoli sprout intake was associated with a decline in prostate cancer occurrence and HDAC3 protein expression in the prostate, extending prior work that implicated loss of HDAC3/ corepressor interactions as a key preventive mechanism by SFN in vivo.
Insights
Broccoli sprouts may prevent prostate cancer by reducing cancer incidence and progression. This diet impacts epigenetic regulators like histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3), offering a potential chemopreventive strategy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epigenetics
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Cruciferous vegetables show chemopreventive potential against cancer.
- Epigenetic regulators are key targets for prostate cancer prevention.
- Sulforaphane (SFN) from broccoli inhibits histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes in cancer cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if a broccoli sprout diet suppresses prostate cancer in the TRAMP mouse model.
- To determine if broccoli sprouts inhibit HDAC expression and alter histone modifications.
- To assess changes in gene expression regulated by HDACs due to broccoli sprout consumption.
Main Methods:
- Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of the Mouse Prostate (TRAMP) mice were fed a diet containing 15% broccoli sprouts or a control diet.
- Tissue samples were collected from mice at 12 and 28 weeks of age for analysis.
Main Results:
- Broccoli sprout consumption reduced prostate cancer incidence and progression.
- A decrease in HDAC3 protein expression and specific histone modifications (H3K9 trimethylation, H3K18 acetylation) was observed in the prostate.
- SFN metabolites were detected in various tissues, including the prostate.
Conclusions:
- Dietary broccoli sprouts are associated with reduced prostate cancer occurrence.
- Broccoli sprouts may exert chemopreventive effects by downregulating HDAC3 protein expression in the prostate.
- This study supports the role of SFN and epigenetic modulation in prostate cancer prevention.
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