Abstract 5683: The dietary anti-estrogenic agent 3,3′-diindolylmethane inhibits metastatic propensity in thyroid cancer cells

Abstract

Abstract The incidences of thyroid proliferative diseases (TPD) including thyroid cancer and goiter are ever increasing with thyroid cancer being the most common among endocrine cancers. Recent statistics reveal 37,000 new cases diagnosed in US alone in 2008 and worldwide almost 27 million patients are affected. Diet has always been of prime importance in its association with cancer development and prevention. Several studies have found inverse association of cancer risk with consumption of dietary products, such as tomatoes, soy and cruciferous vegetables. We have been studying the effect of DIM (3,3′-diindolylmethane), a chemopreventive agent against hormone responsive cancers. In this study we show that thyroid cells express functional estrogen receptor (ER) -α and ER-β and DIM has anti-cancer effects on estrogen responsive thyroid cancer cells. Interestingly, we found that DIM does not affect the levels of ER but it does target metastatic phenotype of thyroid cells as evidenced by decreased adhesion, invasion and migration in vitro. In an attempt to define the cellular target of this inhibition, we observed that DIM mediates down-regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cell adhesion proteins, integrins. This correlates with decreased thyroid cell proliferation and inhibition of metastatic propensity by DIM in thyroid cancer cells. These preclinical studies are being extended to the clinic where the anti-estrogenic property of DIM is being examined in goiter patients. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5683.