Dietary Walnut Suppressed Mammary Gland Tumorigenesis in the C(3)1 TAg Mouse

Abstract

Walnuts contain multiple ingredients that, individually, have been shown to slow cancer growth, including omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and phytosterols. In previous research, consumption of walnuts has slowed the growth of implanted breast cancers. We wanted to determine whether regular walnut consumption might reduce the risk for developing cancer. Homozygous male C(3)1 TAg mice were bred with female SV129 mice consuming either the control AIN-76 diet or the walnut-containing diet. At weaning, the female hemizygous pups were randomized to control or walnut-containing diets and followed for tumor development. Compared to a diet without walnuts, consumption of walnuts significantly reduced tumor incidence (fraction of mice with at least one tumor), multiplicity (number of glands with tumor/mouse), and size. Gene expression analyses indicated that consumption of the walnut diet altered expression of multiple genes associated with proliferation and differentiation of mammary epithelial cells. A comparison with another dietary intervention indicated that the omega 3 content alone did not account for the extent of tumor suppression due to the walnut. The results of this study indicate that walnut consumption could contribute to a healthy diet to reduce risk for breast cancer.

Therapeutic Effects of Phytochemicals and Medicinal Herbs on Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

“…Cisplatin increased, but walnut decreased the latency to nociceptive stimuli [35]. Dietary walnut suppressed mammary gland tumorigenesis in the C(3)1 TAg mouse [90] and growth of implanted MDA-MB 231 human breast cancer cells in nude mice [91]. It has also been demonstrated that walnut reduces growth of prostate cancer [92,93] and colorectal cancer [94].…”

Health benefits of walnut polyphenols: An exploration beyond their lipid profile

“…Gene expression analyses indicated that a walnut diet altered expression of multiple genes associated with proliferation and differentiation of mammary epithelial cells. Although specific bioactive components were not tested, the results of this study indicate that walnut consumption could contribute to a healthy diet for the prevention of breast cancer (Hardman et al, 2011).…”

Walnut polyphenol metabolites, urolithins A and B, inhibit the expression of the prostate-specific antigen and the androgen receptor in prostate cancer cells

“…31 Moreover, ETs and EA seem to exhibit anticancer properties in vitro and in vivo. Recent research in vitro has shown that walnut extracts have dose-dependent inhibitory effects on colon cancer cell growth 32 and it has been observed that walnuts delay the growth rate of breast cancer cells 33 and prostate cancer cells 30 implanted in mice. ET-rich herbal extracts have been shown to inhibit LNCaP cell proliferation and reduce PSA secretion.…”