A compound found in broccoli¹ and other cruciferous vegetables has been found to slow the growth of breast cancer cells, especially at early stages.

一项研究发现，含有西兰花及其它十字花科蔬菜的混合制剂，有助于减缓乳腺癌细胞的生长，尤其是在发病早期。

While sulforaphane has long shown evidence of value in cancer prevention, researchers at Oregon State University (OSU) and the Oregon Health and Science University suggested in a new study that it may play a role in slowing cancer growth as well.

花椰菜和其他十字花科蔬菜含有的萝卜硫素长期以来就被证明具有防癌价值，而据俄勒冈州立大学及俄勒冈卫生与科学大学联合进行的新研究显示，萝卜硫素还能减缓癌细胞的扩散。

The findings were the result of the first clinical studies to look at the effect of sulforaphane on breast tissues of women diagnosed with breast cancer.

这项研究测试了萝卜硫素对患有乳腺癌女性的乳腺组织的效果，而该新发现正是第一次临床应用后所得出的结论。

Emily Ho, a professor at the OSU College of Public Health and Human Sciences, said "our original goal was to determine if sulforaphane supplements would be well tolerated and might alter some of the epigenetic mechanisms² involved in cancer."

俄勒冈州立大学公共卫生和人文科学学院的教授何艾米丽说：“我们最初的目标是想确认萝卜硫素补充剂是否有很好的耐受性，并看它是否能改变与癌症相关的表观遗传机制。”

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo³-controlled trial, 54 women with abnormal mammograms were given either a placebo or supplements that provided sulforaphane. The amount of sulforaphane they received would equate⁴ to about one cup of broccoli sprouts⁵ per day, if eaten as a food.

在一个双盲的、随机的、安慰剂对照试验中，科研人员向54名乳房X光出现异常的妇女分发含有萝卜硫素的安慰剂或营养片剂，每一片安慰剂或营养片剂所含的萝卜硫素成分相等于一天一杯的花椰菜芽分量。

"We were surprised to see a decrease in markers of cell growth, which means these compounds may help slow cancer cell growth," said Ho. "This is very encouraging. Dietary approaches have traditionally been thought to be limited to cancer prevention, but this demonstrated it could help slow the growth of existing tumors."

何艾米莉教授说：“让我们感到意外的是，癌细胞标记明显在下降，这意味着这些成分有助于减缓癌细胞增长。这个结果非常鼓舞人心。一直以来，人们以为饮食疗法仅限于预防癌症，但这项研究证明，它也能减缓已有的癌细胞的扩散。”

Previous studies have found that women with a high intake⁷ of cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage or kale, have a decreased risk of breast cancer. In particular, sulforaphane appears to inhibit⁸ histone deacetylases, or HDACs, which in turn enhances the expression of tumor⁶ suppressor genes⁹ that are often silenced in cancer cells.

先前的研究显示，女性多食用西兰花、菜花、卷心菜、羽衣甘蓝等十字花科蔬菜，可以降低患乳腺癌的风险。特别要指出的是，萝卜硫素可以抑制组蛋白脱乙酰酶或HDACs，反过来又能促进原本在癌细胞内的不活泼的肿瘤抑制基因的增长。

Researchers said additional studies are needed to evaluate dose responses, work with larger populations, and examine the responses of other relevant molecular¹⁰ targets to either foods or supplements containing sulforaphane.

相关工作人员表示，目前还需要进行大量的研究来评估剂量反应及更广泛的人群的适应性，并确认其他相关的分子——无论是食物或是补充剂——的反馈效果。