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Efficacy and tolerability of sulforaphane in the therapeutic management of cancers: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Dana ElKhalifa, Nour Al-Ziftawi, Ahmed Awaisu, Feras Alali, Ashraf Khalil
Frontiers in Oncology 2023 13:1251895

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 38074675
PubMed Central
PMC10710291
Funding
Qatar University funded publication of the article.
Competing interests
The authors declared that the research was conducted without commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Study snapshot

DesignSystematic review of randomized controlled trials
ModelHuman cancer patients across prostate, breast, pancreatic cancer and melanoma trials
Sample
InterventionSulforaphane or sulforaphane-rich interventions used as the primary experimental treatment across eight randomized controlled trials
DurationVariable across included trials
EndpointsCancer-related gene expression; Histological biomarkers; PSA outcomes; Overall survival; Adverse events

What the study showed, in plain terms

This review found eight randomized sulforaphane trials across several cancers. Some molecular and histological markers changed, but results were heterogeneous and did not establish sulforaphane as a proven cancer treatment.

Key findings

Across the eight RCTs, some gene and biomarker endpoints improved while others did not; prostate PSA findings were inconsistent and the pancreatic-cancer survival signal was not statistically significant. Heterogeneity prevented meta-analysis.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Only eight heterogeneous RCTs were available, with varying formulations, doses, cancer types and endpoints. Most evidence remains biomarker- or surrogate-driven, so the review cannot establish therapeutic efficacy.

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