Addressing the Soy and Breast Cancer Relationship: Review, Commentary, and Workshop Proceedings
Open Access
- 20 September 2006
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute
- Vol. 98 (18), 1275-1284
- https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djj356
Abstract
The impact of soyfood intake on breast cancer risk has been investigated extensively. Much of this focus can be attributed to the soybean being a dietary source that is uniquely rich in isoflavones. The chemical structure of isoflavones is similar to that of estrogen, and isoflavones bind to both estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ) (although they preferentially bind to and activate ERβ) and exert estrogen-like effects under some experimental conditions. Isoflavones also possess nonhormonal properties that are associated with the inhibition of cancer cell growth. Thus, there are several possible mechanisms by which soy may reduce the risk of breast cancer. However, the role of isoflavones in breast cancer has become controversial because, in contrast to the possible beneficial effects, some data from in vitro and animal studies suggest that isoflavones, especially genistein, the aglycone of the main soybean isoflavone genistin, may stimulate the growth of estrogen-sensitive tumors. Limited human data directly address the tumor-promoting effects of isoflavones and soy. Because the use of soyfoods and isoflavone supplements is increasing, it is important from a public health perspective to understand the impact of these products on breast cancer risk in women at high risk of the disease and on the survival of breast cancer patients. To this end, a workshop was held in November 2005 to review the existing literature and to make research recommendations. This paper summarizes the workshop findings and recommendations. The primary research recommendation is that the impact of isoflavones on breast tissue needs to be evaluated at the cellular level in women at high risk for breast cancer.Keywords
This publication has 140 references indexed in Scilit:
- Mammalian lignans enterolactone and enterodiol, alone and in combination with the isoflavone genistein, do not promote the growth of MCF‐7 xenografts in ovariectomized athymic nude miceInternational Journal of Cancer, 2005
- Soy Processing Affects Metabolism and Disposition of Dietary Isoflavones in Ovariectomized Balb/c MiceJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2005
- Effects of Conjugated Equine Estrogen in Postmenopausal Women With HysterectomyJAMA, 2004
- Estrogen receptor β inhibits 17β-estradiol-stimulated proliferation of the breast cancer cell line T47DProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2004
- Ligands Differentially Modulate the Protein Interactions of the Human Estrogen Receptors α and βJournal of Molecular Biology, 2003
- Risks and Benefits of Estrogen Plus Progestin in Healthy Postmenopausal Women: Principal Results From the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled TrialJAMA, 2002
- Effects of phytoestrogens on aromatase, 3β and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities and human breast cancer cellsLife Sciences, 2000
- Structure of the ligand-binding domain of oestrogen receptor beta in the presence of a partial agonist and a full antagonistThe EMBO Journal, 1999
- Estrogenic and antiproliferative properties of genistein and other flavonoids in human breast cancer cellsin vitroNutrition and Cancer, 1997
- Genistein inhibition of the growth of human breast cancer cells: Independence from estrogen receptors and the multi-drug resistance geneBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1991