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Intake of Glucosinolates and Cruciferous Vegetables and Survival in Individuals with Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer

Principal Investigator
Name
Qi Sun
Degrees
M.D., Ph.D.
Institution
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Position Title
Associate Professor
Email
About this CDAS Project
Study
PLCO (Learn more about this study)
Project ID
PLCO-1917
Initial CDAS Request Approval
Aug 12, 2025
Title
Intake of Glucosinolates and Cruciferous Vegetables and Survival in Individuals with Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer
Summary
Cruciferous vegetables—such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage—are rich in glucosinolates, bioactive compounds that, upon hydrolysis, yield isothiocyanates and indoles with potential anti-carcinogenic properties. Experimental and epidemiological studies suggest that higher intake of cruciferous vegetables may influence cancer incidence through mechanisms including modulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and detoxification pathways. However, few large-scale prospective studies have examined whether post-diagnostic intake of glucosinolates and cruciferous vegetables is associated with survival among individuals diagnosed with major cancers.
To address this critical gap, we propose a pooled analysis utilizing data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial, integrated with three large U.S. prospective cohorts: the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS), NHS II, and Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS). These combined resources offer comprehensive dietary data and long-term follow-up on mortality outcomes among individuals diagnosed with prostate, lung, colorectal, or ovarian cancer. This project will enable robust, harmonized analyses of dietary intake after cancer diagnosis in relation to total and cancer-specific mortality across diverse populations and cancer types.
Aims

To examine the associations between post-diagnostic intake of glucosinolates and cruciferous vegetables and all-cause and cancer-specific mortality among individuals diagnosed with prostate, lung, colorectal, or ovarian cancer, using harmonized data from the PLCO trial and the NHS, NHSII, and HPFS cohorts. We will further investigate whether these associations differ by sex, hormone use status (for applicable cancers), and tumor histological grade to better understand potential effect modifiers and identify subpopulations that may benefit most from dietary interventions.
Findings from this study will provide important insights into the role of diet in cancer survivorship and support the development of personalized, evidence-based dietary guidelines aimed at improving long-term outcomes in cancer patients.

Collaborators

Dr. Qi Sun (Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health)