New Protective Shield against Cervical Cancer

A research team from Kolkata has discovered that an isothiocyanate compound in combination with sulphoraphane and anti-cancer drug could help battle out cervical cancer. Studies were performed to measure the degree of controlled cell death induced by either isothiocyanates alone, or in combination with adriamycin or etoposide (anti-cancer drugs). Death of cancer cells was evident from biochemical evidence. This effect of isothiocyanates might prove to be of considerable value in synergistic therapy of cervical cancer such that the drug dose level could be minimized. This research will be very significant as India bears the 25 per cent burden of global cervical cancer cases and natural isothiocyanates isolated from cruciferous vegetables are known to be effective chemopreventive agents and exhibit protective effect against cancers in a variety of target organs. The findings of the study have been published in the 12th April 2009 Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry.