QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hawrylewicz, E. J. Articles by Blair, W. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hawrylewicz, E. J. Articles by Blair, W. H.

Soy And Experimental Cancer: Animal Studies¹

Department of Research, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60616

Studies are reviewed that report consumption of soy protein diets inhibits the growth of various tumors in rats. The inhibitory effect has been attributed to the phytoestrogens (genistein and diadzein) or protein kinase inhibitor in soy protein products. Recent studies indicate that additional factors in soy protein products may also contribute to the inhibition of tumorigenesis, namely the deficiency of the essential amino acid methionine. Metastatic growth to the lungs of a primary rhabdomyosarcoma tumor was inhibited by feeding a soy protein diet. The effect was reversed by methionine fortification of the diet. Carcinogen-induced mammary tumor development was inhibited during the promotional phase in rats fed soy protein isolate diet and reversed with a methionine-supplemented diet. Additional studies demonstrated that after excision of the primary mammary tumor, growth of additional tumors was inhibited when the diet was changed from casein to soy protein isolate. Histopathologic evaluation of the mammary tumors revealed more benign fibroadenomas and lower-grade adenocarcinomas in the soy protein group. Before carcinogen administration (at 7 weeks of age), ornithine decarboxylase activity and polyamine concentrations in the rat mammary epithelium were significantly lower in the soy protein group. These data suggest an inhibitory effect on mammary epithelial growth in the soy-protein-fed group.

KEY WORDS: • soy protein • methionine • phytoestrogens • mammary cancer • polyamines • ornithine decarboxylase

¹ Presented at the First International Symposium on the Role of Soy in Preventing and Treating Chronic Disease, held in Mesa, AZ, February 20–23, 1994. The symposium was sponsored by Protein Technologies International, the soybean growers from Nebraska, Indiana and Iowa and the United Soybean Board. Guest editors for this symposium were Mark Messina, 1543 Lincoln Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368, and John W. Erdman, Jr., Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801-3852.

² To whom correspondence should be addressed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. B. Michaud, J. P. Karpinski, K. L. Jones, and J. Espirito Dietary supplements in patients with cancer: Risks and key concepts, part 2 Am. J. Health Syst. Pharm., March 1, 2007; 64(5): 467 - 480. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. O. Moore, Y. Wang, W. G. Stebbins, D. Gao, X. Zhou, R. Phelps, M. Lebwohl, and H. Wei Photoprotective effect of isoflavone genistein on ultraviolet B-induced pyrimidine dimer formation and PCNA expression in human reconstituted skin and its implications in dermatology and prevention of cutaneous carcinogenesis Carcinogenesis, August 1, 2006; 27(8): 1627 - 1635. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. J. Trock, L. Hilakivi-Clarke, and R. Clarke Meta-analysis of soy intake and breast cancer risk. J Natl Cancer Inst, April 5, 2006; 98(7): 459 - 471. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]