[Jackie07]

Didn't find much under 'broccoli', but was able to pull some articles doing a search on 'Sulforaphane'. Here are two of the most recent reports:

J Nutr Biochem. 2011 Feb 3. [Epub ahead of print]
Implications of cancer stem cell theory for cancer chemoprevention by natural dietary compounds.
Li Y, Wicha MS, Schwartz SJ, Sun D.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Food Science and Technology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Abstract
The emergence of cancer stem cell theory has profound implications for cancer chemoprevention and therapy. Cancer stem cells give rise to the tumor bulk through continuous self-renewal and differentiation. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate self-renewal is of greatest importance for discovery of anticancer drugs targeting cancer stem cells. Naturally occurring dietary compounds have received increasing attention in cancer chemoprevention. The anticancer effects of many dietary components have been reported for both in vitro and in vivo studies. Recently, a number of studies have found that several dietary compounds can directly or indirectly affect cancer stem cell self-renewal pathways. Herein we review the current knowledge of most common natural dietary compounds for their impact on self-renewal pathways and potential effect against cancer stem cells. Three pathways (Wnt/β-catenin, Hedgehog and Notch) are summarized for their functions in self-renewal of cancer stem cells. The dietary compounds, including curcumin, sulforaphane, soy isoflavone, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, resveratrol, lycopene, piperine and vitamin D(3), are discussed for their direct or indirect effect on these self-renewal pathways. Curcumin and piperine have been demonstrated to target breast cancer stem cells. Sulforaphane has been reported to inhibit pancreatic tumor-initiating cells and breast cancer stem cells. These studies provide a basis for preclinical and clinical evaluation of dietary compounds for chemoprevention of cancer stem cells. This may enable us to discover more preventive strategies for cancer management by reducing cancer resistance and recurrence and improving patient survival.

Anticancer Res. 2010 Sep;30(9):3381-90.
Autophagy inhibition enhances sulforaphane-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.
Kanematsu S, Uehara N, Miki H, Yoshizawa K, Kawanaka A, Yuri T, Tsubura A.
Department of Pathology II, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Osaka 570-8506, Japan.
Abstract
AIM: Sulforaphane (SFN), which is present in cruciferous vegetables, induces growth arrest and/or cell death in cancer of various organs. The involvement of autophagy in the SFN-induced apoptotic death of human breast cancer cells was investigated.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell proliferation and viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and trypan blue exclusion assay. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, and Western blot analysis were used for detection of apoptosis and autophagy, and the role of autophagy was assessed using autophagy inhibitors.
RESULTS: SFN dose- and time-dependently retarded the growth and induced cell death in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. In MDA-MB-231 cells, 30 μM SFN caused S and G2/M cell-cycle arrest associated with increased p21WAF1 and p27KIP1 levels and decreased cyclin A, cyclin B1 and CDC2 levels. Cell death was due to apoptosis with increased caspase-3 and lowered BCL-2 levels. In addition, the SFN-treated cells exhibited autophagy, as characterized by the appearance of autophagic vacuoles by electron microscopy, the accumulation of acidic vesicular organelles by flow cytometry, and the punctuate patterns of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) by fluorescein microscopy. The levels of LC3-I and -II proteins (processed forms of LC3-I) and LC3 mRNA were increased. Treatment with autophagy inhibitor bafilomycin A1 (but not 3-methyladenine) with SFN significantly enhanced apoptosis, which was accompanied by increases in the level of BAX and the cleavage of caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP)-1 and decreases in the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm).

ps. By the way, just purchased a used copy of 'Food Cures: Breakthrough Nutritional Prescritions for everything from cold to cancer' through Amazon. It's an economic/safe way to get things I need during this stormy/wintery weather...

Reader's Digest has been heavily advertising it for over a year through e-mails. I finally decided to take a look after noticing the copyright of "Doctor, what should I eat?" (by Isadore Rosenfeld, MD) is dated 1995.