Influence of inulin and oligofructose on breast cancer and tumor growth

Because anticarcinogenic and tumor-growth-inhibiting effects of nonsoluble fibers have been described, similar actions of soluble fibers appear to mer it investigation. In a preliminary study on methylnitrosourea-induced mamma ry carcinogenesis in Sprague-Dawley female rats, 15% oligofructose added to the basal diet modulated this carcinogenesis in a negative manner. There w as a lower number of tumor-bearing rats and a lower total number of mammary tumors in oligofructose-fed rats than in the group fed the basal diet alon e. The effect of dietary nondigestible carbohydrates (15% oligofructose, in ulin or pectin incorporated into the basal diet) on the growth of intramusc ularly transplanted mouse tumors, belonging to two tumor lines (TLT and EMT 6), was also investigated. The results were evaluated by regular tumor meas urements with a vernier caliper. The mean tumor surface in the experimental groups was compared with that in animals of the control group fed the basa l diet containing starch as the only carbohydrate. The growth of both tumor lines was significantly inhibited by supplementing the diet with nondigest ible carbohydrates, Such nontoxic dietary treatment appears to be easy and risk free for patients, applicable as an adjuvant factor in the classical p rotocols of human cancer therapy.