The compound, inositol pentakisphosphate, inhibits a key enzyme -- phosphoinositide 3-kinase -- involved in tumor growth, the study indicates. The University College London (UCL) led the collaborative effort.

A diet rich in such legumes as lentils, peas and beans, and in wheat bran and nuts could help prevent cancer, the findings suggest. Moreover, the discovery of the inhibitor may lead to new anti-cancer therapies.

Inhibited Tumor Growth in Mice

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase is known to be a key player in the development and progression of human tumors. Scientists have been exploring it as a target for cancer treatment, but they have encountered problems with developing inhibitors due to the chemical stability and toxicity of the inhibiting substances used.

Dr. Marco Falasca of the UCL Sackler Institute and colleagues have found that the natural compound inositol pentakisphosphate -- plentiful in some beans, nuts and cereals -- inhibits the activity of the enzyme.

The researchers tested the compound in mouse models and on cancer cells. It not only inhibited the growth of tumors in mice, but also enhanced the effect of cytotoxic drugs in ovarian- and lung-cancer cells.

Inositol pentakisphosphate could be used to sensitize cancer cells to the action of commonly used anti-cancer drugs, the findings suggest.

'Promising Anti-Cancer Tool'

Because it is non-toxic and water soluble, inositol pentakisphosphate a promising therapeutic agent. Conventional chemotherapy agents can be toxic to different degrees, but the inositol phosphate agent was found to be non-toxic -- even at higher concentrations..

"Our study suggests the importance of a diet enriched in food such as beans, nuts and cereals, which could help prevent cancer," says Dr. Marco Falasca of the UCL Sackler Institute.

"Our work will now focus on establishing whether the phosphate inhibitor can be developed into an anti-cancer agent for human therapy. We believe that inositol pentakisphosphate is a promising anti-cancer tool, and we hope to bring it to clinical testing soon," he concludes.