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Mechanisms
of Cancer Chemoprevention by Soy Isoflavone Genistein
Fazlul
H. Sarkar, Yiwei Li
Department
of Pathology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of
Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
Diet has
been implicated to play an important role in cancers.
Epidemiological studies have revealed that Asians, who consume a traditional
diet high in soy products, have relatively low incidences of breast and prostate
cancers, while the incidences are much higher in the Western world.
Asians who immigrate to the United States and adopt a Western diet are at higher
risks of breast and prostate cancers.
Soy isoflavones have received much attention as dietary components having an
important role in reducing breast and prostate cancers.
Genistein, one of the predominant soy isoflavones, has been shown to inhibit the
growth of cancer cells through the modulation of genes that are related to the
homeostatic control of cell cycle and apoptosis.
It has been found that genistein inhibits the activation of the nuclear
transcription factor, NF-κB
and Akt signaling pathway, both of which are known to maintain a balance between
cell survival and programmed cell death (apoptosis).
Genistein is known to have anti-oxidant property, and commonly known as
phytoestrogen, which targets estrogen and androgen-mediated signaling pathway in
the processes of carcinogenesis.
Moreover, genistein is also found to be a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis and
metastasis.
Hence, significant advances have been made, both by in vitro and in
vivo studies showing that genistein is a promising agent for cancer
chemoprevention and/or treatment.
Keywords: genistein, soy isoflavone, cancer, chemoprevention
Copyright ©
2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers.
All rights reserved
Source: http://www.kluweronline.com/issn/0167-7659
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