Indole-3-carbinol suppresses tumor-induced angiogenesis by inhibiting tube formation and inducing apoptosis.

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) has been reported to exert anticancer activity in vivo. However, its anticancer mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that I3C suppressed tumor-induced angiogenesis and tube formation of endothelial cells. I3C also induced apoptosis in endothelial cells by activating the caspase cascade. We propose that I3C exerts its anticancer effect through the induction of endothelial apoptosis.