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Effects of genistein and synergistic action in combination with eicosapentaenoic acid on the growth of breast cancer cell lines.
Authors: Nakagawa H; Yamamoto D; Kiyozuka Y; Tsuta K Uemura Y; Hioki K; Tsutsui Y; Tsubura A
Source: J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2000 Aug;126(8):448-54
Genistein, a prominent isoflavone in soy products, produced dose- and
time-dependent in vitro growth inhibition at high concentrations (at
least 185 microM) with an IC50 of 7.0-274.2 microM after 72 h
incubation in four breast cancer cell lines (DD-762, Sm-MT, MCF-7 and
MDA-MB-231) and one breast epithelial cell line (HBL- 100) of human
and animal origin; it stimulated estrogen-receptor-positive MCF-7
cells at low concentrations (3.7 nM-37 microM). Genistein-exposed
cells underwent apoptosis, confirmed by G2/M arrest followed by the
appearance of a sub-G1 fraction in cell-cycle progression, and by a
characteristic cell ultrastructure. The apoptosis cascade was due to
up-regulation of Bax protein, down-regulation of Bcl-XL protein, and
activation of caspase-3. Genistein acted in synergism with
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a fish oil component, on human breast
cancer MCF-7 cells (genistein > 93.2 microM and EPA > 210.9
microM) and on MDA-MB-231 cells (genistein > 176.1 microM and EPA
> 609.3 microM). Dietary intake of genistein in combination with
EPA may be beneficial for breast cancer control.