Breast
cancer is the most predominant cause of death in women globally.
The current study was performed to evaluate the possible protective
role of wheat germ oil (WGO), wheat germ powder (WGP), and vitamin
E (Vit E) against breast carcinoma induced by the environmental carcinogen
7,12-dimethylbenz[
a
]anthracene (DMBA) in Sprague
Dawely albino rats. Eighty female rats were divided into eight groups,
each of ten rats. All protective agents were taken 21 days prior to
DMBA treatment. Group I served as the normal control. Group II received
Vit E (100 mg/kg BW/d) by gavage. Group III was fed a 20% WGP enriched
basal diet. Group IV received WGO (270 mg/kg BW/d) by gavage. Group
V received DMBA (50 mg/kg body weight/subcutaneous injection). Group
VI received Vit E + DMBA. Group VII received WGP + DMBA. Group VIII
received WGO + DMBA. The investigation focused on bodyweights, complete
blood picture (CBC), cancer antigen 15.3 (CA15.3), superoxide dismutase
(SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and histopathological
and immunohistochemical analyses. Results showed that all cancer protective
agents significantly improved CBC parameters, proliferating cell nuclear
antigen (PCNA), and the histopathology picture, with the best improvement
in the WGO group. In addition, WGO, WGP, and Vit E decreased the CA15.3
and MDA levels and elevated both the SOD and CAT levels compared to
the DMBA group. Consequently, supplementation with WGO, WGP, and Vit
E protects against lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress and reduces
breast cancer.