Aged garlic extract inhibits angiogenesis and proliferation of colorectal carcinoma cells.

Because colorectal cancer is likely to develop in many people at some point during their lives, prevention has become a high priority. Diet and nutrition play an important role during the multistep colon carcinogenic process. Garlic has been traditionally used as a spice and is well known for its medicinal properties; several studies have indicated its pharmacologic functions, including its anticarcinogenic properties. However, the mechanisms by which garlic can prevent colorectal cancer remain to be elucidated. This study investigated the effect of aged garlic extract (AGE) on the growth of colorectal cancer cells and their angiogenesis, which are important microenvironmental factors in carcinogenesis. AGE suppressed the proliferation of 3 different colorectal cancer cell lines-HT29, SW480, and SW620-in the same way, but its effects on the invasive activities of these 3 cell lines were different. the invasive activities of SW480 and SW620 cells were inhibited by AGE, whereas AGE had no effect on the invasive activity of Ht29 cells. The action of AGE appears to be dependent on the type of cancer cell. On the other hand, AGE enhanced the adhesion of endothelial cells to collagen and fibronectin and suppressed cell motility and invasion. AGE also inhibited the proliferation and tube formation of endothelial cells potently. These results suggest that AGE could prevent tumor formation by inhibiting angiogenesis through the suppression of endothelial cell motility, proliferation, and tube formation. AGE would be a good chemopreventive agent for colorectal cancer because of its antiproliferative action on colorectal carcinoma cells and inhibitory activity on angiogenesis.