Indole-3-carbinol prevents cervical cancer in human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV16) transgenic mice

• Published in: Cancer research (Chicago, Ill.) Vol. 59; no. 16; pp. 3991 - 3997
• Main Authors: LIANG JIN, MET QI, CHEN, D.-Z, ANDERSON, A, YANG, G.-Y, ARBEIT, J. M, AUBORN, K. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA American Association for Cancer Research 15.08.1999
• Subjects: Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents - pharmacology; Anticarcinogenic Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - drug effects; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - genetics; Chemical agents; Estrogen Antagonists - pharmacology; Estrogen Antagonists - therapeutic use; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - drug effects; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral - drug effects; Human papillomavirus 16; Humans; Indoles - pharmacology; Indoles - therapeutic use; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Papillomaviridae - genetics; Tumors; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - genetics; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - prevention & control; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - virology; Animal model; Tumor promotor; Tumoral tissue; Rodentia; Antiestrogen; Estrogen; Oral administration; Transgenic animal; Papovaviridae; Uterine cervix; Malignant tumor; Anticarcinogen; Antitumor promotor; Biological activity; Female genital diseases; Papillomavirus; Virus; Human papillomavirus 16; Human papillomavirus; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Plant origin; Uterine cervix diseases
• ISSN: 0008-5472; 1538-7445

Mice that express transgenes for human papillomavirus type 16 under a keratin 14 promoter (K14-HPV16 mice) develop cervical cancer when they are given 17beta-estradiol chronically. We asked whether the antiestrogenic phytochemical indole-3-carbinol (I3C), found in cruciferous vegetables, administered at physiological doses, would prevent the cervical-vaginal cancer that is promoted in these mice by high doses of estrogen. We compared mice that were fed a control diet with those that were fed a diet supplemented with 2000 ppm I3C. In the group fed the control diet, at a dose of estradiol of 0.125 mg per 60-day release, 19 of 25 transgenic mice developed cervical-vaginal cancer within 6 months, and the remainder had dysplasia. Only 2 mice of 24 in the group fed the I3C supplemented diet developed cancer, and the remainder had dysplasia or hyperplasia. I3C reduced dysplasia in the nontransgenic mice. Similar results were obtained at a higher dose of estradiol (0.250 mg per 60-day release), and I3C helped to prevent morbidity associated with retention of fluid in the bladder that frequently occurred with the higher estradiol dose. Additionally, I3C appeared to reduce skin cancer in transgenic mice. These data indicate that I3C is a useful preventive for cervical-vaginal cancer and, possibly, other cancers with a papillomavirus component.