Effect of soy isoflavones on the growth of human breast tumors: findings from preclinical studies

The Soybean High Density 'Forrest' by 'Williams 82' SNP-Based Genetic Linkage Map Identifies QTL and Candidate Genes for Seed Isoflavone Content

Isoflavones are secondary metabolites that are abundant in soybean and other legume seeds providing health and nutrition benefits for both humans and animals. The objectives of this study were to construct a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based genetic linkage map using the ‘Forrest’ by ‘Williams 82’ (F×W82) recombinant inbred line (RIL) population (n = 306); map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for seed daidzein, genistein, glycitein, and total isoflavone contents in two environments over two years (NC-2018 and IL-2020); identify candidate genes for seed isoflavone. The FXW82 SNP-based map was composed of 2075 SNPs and covered 4029.9 cM. A total of 27 QTL that control various seed isoflavone traits have been identified and mapped on chromosomes (Chrs.) 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 19, and 20 in both NC-2018 (13 QTL) and IL-2020 (14 QTL). The six QTL regions on Chrs. 2, 4, 5, 12, 15, and 19 are novel regions while the other 21 QTL have been identified by other studies using different biparental mapping populations or genome-wide association studies (GWAS). A total of 130 candidate genes involved in isoflavone biosynthetic pathways have been identified on all 20 Chrs. And among them 16 have been identified and located within or close to the QTL identified in this study. Moreover, transcripts from four genes (Glyma.10G058200, Glyma.06G143000, Glyma.06G137100, and Glyma.06G137300) were highly abundant in Forrest and Williams 82 seeds. The identified QTL and four candidate genes will be useful in breeding programs to develop soybean cultivars with high beneficial isoflavone contents.

The Effect of CoQ10 Supplementation on Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Tamoxifen Therapy: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial

Background

Survival rates among breast cancer patients and the number of patients living with treatment side effects have improved, leading to increased focus on quality of life (QOL). The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of CoQ₁₀ on QOL scores among breast cancer patients in Iranian undergoing tamoxifen therapy.

Methods

Thirty breast cancer patients were randomized into two groups. The first group received 100 mg CoQ₁₀, and the second group took fplacebo once a day for 8 weeks. QOL was evaluated by a standard QOL questionnaire and a specific questionnaire on QOL of breast cancer patients at baseline and the end of the study. Also, physical activity of patients was assessed with the IPAQ questionnaire and dietary intake determined by a 3-day dietary record.

Results

The data of 30 subjects were analyzed. According to QOL C30 data, CoQ₁₀ led to a significant increase in physical functioning (P=0.029), emotional functioning (P=0.031), and cognitive functioning (P=0.023) compared to placebo. Symptom scales revealed a notable reduction in appetite loss in the first group (P=0.01). Global health status showed no significant changes in either study arm. On the QOL BR23, progress in functions and decline in symptoms were not statistically significant. Arm symptoms showed significant reduction (P=0.022) in patients that received placebo.

Conclusion

This trial indicates that CoQ₁₀ supplementation has effects in ameliorating some dimensions of QOL in breast cancer patients. To generalize the results, larger and longer intervention studies are needed.

Clinical Trial Registration

IRCT2015042021874N1.

The Effect of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Serum Levels of Interleukin 6 and 8 in Women with Breast Cancer: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial

Background

To better evaluate the efficacy of CoQ10 on the inflammatory markers in breast cancer patients, we conducted a clinical study of patients with breast cancer undergoing tamoxifen therapy. CoQ10 serves as an antioxidant and inhibits oxidation caused by reactive oxygen species. The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on serum levels of interleukin 6, 8, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with breast cancer undergoing tamoxifen therapy by a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial.

Methods

In the study, 30 breast cancer patients and 29 healthy subjects were randomized into four groups. Two groups of intervention received 100 mg CoQ10, and two control groups took placebo once a day for 2 months. Blood draws were obtained at baseline and at the end of the study. Serum levels of IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF were analyzed using ELISA kits.

Results

The data of the 59 participants were analyzed. Supplementation with CoQ10 demonstrated a significant decrease in IL-8 and IL-6 serum levels compared to placebo (P< 0.05). Although the downward trend was evident, CoQ10 supplementation did not reveal any significant effect on serum VEGF concentration. The group of patients who received supplements showed the most reduction in serum levels of cytokines among other groups.

Conclusion

CoQ10 supplementation could be effective in ameliorating inflammatory cytokine levels, thereby reducing the consequences of inflammation caused by breast cancer. To generalize the results, larger and longer intervention studies with higher safe doses are needed and should take account of possible costs and harms as well as benefits (registration number: IRCT2015042021874N1).

Soybean isoflavone ameliorates cognitive impairment, neuroinflammation, and amyloid β accumulation in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease

Oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory changes appear to be the early events involved in AD's development and progression. The present study was designed to assess the effect of soybean isoflavone extract (SIFE) against colchicine-induced cognitive dysfunction and oxidative stress in male rats.Fifty adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups: control, ACSF-treated group, soybean isoflavones (SIF)-treated group, colchicine (COL)-treated group, and SIF + COL-treated group. We found that an intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of a single dose of colchicine (7.5 μg/rat bilaterally) resulted in learning deficits in rats subjected to the Morris water maze task associated with marked oxidative damage and decreased acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) activity. In addition, COL caused significant increase in amyloid beta peptide 1-42 (β, amyloid 1-42) interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and TNF-α genes expression in the brain, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in cortical astrocytes in the brain cortex.Treatment with SIFE (80 mg/kg b.wt) daily for 14 days followed by a single dose of COL significantly reduced the elevated oxidative stress parameters and restored the reduced antioxidant activities. Besides, the administration of SIFE reversed the overproduction of β, amyloid 1-42, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and GFAP in the brain. The obtained results were confirmed by histological observations that clearly indicate a neuroprotective effect of SIF against AD.

Is Danggui Safe to be Taken by Breast Cancer Patients?-A Skepticism Finally Answered by Comprehensive Preclinical Evidence

Angelica sinensis (AS, Danggui) has long been regarded to stimulate breast cancer growth; hence, the use of AS in breast cancer patients remains a major concern for both patients and practitioners. Since safety studies of herbs would be unethical to carry out in patients, the present study aimed to investigate the potential unsafe effects of AS in a systematic pre-clinical approach. Human breast cancer cells, breast orthotopic tumor-bearing mouse models, as well as primary breast cancer cells from patients’ tumors were used to evaluate the effect of AS hot water extract on the progression of breast tumors and/or growth of breast cancer cells. We showed that AS is not that stimulatory in breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo, though AS should still be used with caution in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients. This novel approach of applying breast cancer cell lines, xenograft, and syngeneic tumors models, as well as primary breast cancer cells from patients’ tumors in Chinese medicines safety evaluation was proven feasible. Our finding is important information for patients, Chinese medicine practitioners, and clinicians on the safety use of AS in breast cancer, which will affect future clinical practice.

Modeling a pH-sensitive Zein-co-acrylic acid hybrid hydrogels loaded 5-fluorouracil and rutin for enhanced anticancer efficacy by oral delivery

The combination of natural and synthetic polymeric materials grafted hydrogels offer great potential as oral therapeutic systems because of its intrinsic biocompatibility, biodegradability, protect labile drugs from metabolism and controlled release properties. Hence, in the present study, we aimed to prepare and optimize oral delivered pH-responsive Zein-co-acrylic acid hydrogels incorporated with 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) and rutin (Ru) for effective anticancer activity with less toxicity. In this study, graft polymerization technique is adopted to formulate hydrogels with various ratios of Zein, acrylic acid, N, N-methylene bisacrylamide, and ammonium persulphate as an initiator. The optimized formulation was identified based on the cross-linking, chemical interactions, intrinsic viscosity (η), dynamic swelling (Q) at pH 1.2, diffusion coefficient (D), sol-gel fraction (%), and porosity (%). The selected optimized formulation has shown significant improvement in drugs loading and encapsulation efficiency, releasing at pH 1.2 and pH 7.4. Drug release kinetics studies confirmed the controlled release properties of hydrogels. Hydrogels were porous and the drug loading of 5-Fu and Ru was found to be 12.13% and 10.86%, respectively, whereas encapsulation efficiency of 5-Fu and Ru was 89.35% and 81.47%, respectively. Furthermore, form the in vitro cytotoxic screening, it was found that 52.5 µg mL-1 5-Fu and Ru-loaded hydrogel impacted 50% of cell death at 24 h, there by significantly arresting the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. Altogether, the optimized pH-responsive hydrogels make them favorable carrier for anticancer drugs for oral delivery.

The anticancer activity of genistein is increased in estrogen receptor beta 1-positive breast cancer cells

Background

Most breast cancers are estrogen dependent and were sensitive to endocrine therapy, and genistein (GEN) shows strong affinity with human oestrogen receptor beta (ERβ).

Purpose

The present study aimed to investigate the anticancer activity of GEN in breast cancer cell lines that constitutively expressing ERβ1 in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

MCF-7/ERβ1 and MDA-MB-231/ERβ1 cell sub-lines were established through lentiviral infection. Then, cells were treated with increasing concentrations of GEN (10^-6 mol/l, 10^-5 mol/l and 10^-4 mol/l) for 48 h, and cell proliferation, cell cycle analyses were performed to investigate different biological characteristics of ERβ1-overexpressing cell lines. Studies in vivo were also performed to investigate the effects of dietary GEN on MCF-7/ERβ1 and MDA-MB-231/ERβ1 cells implanted mice.

Results

Results showed that compared to parental cells, GEN inhibited the proliferation ability of MCF-7/ERβ1 cells to a greater extent, especially at high concentrations. MDA-MB-231 cells were also inhibited by high doses of GEN, but the overexpressed ERβ1 did not enhance the anti-proliferative effect on MDA-MB-231 cells. ERβ1 arrested cells in G2/M phase, and GEN arrested cells in G0/G1, which led to a combinatorial effect on cell cycle blockade. Furthermore, ERβ1 increased the anti-tumour activity of dietary GEN in MCF-7/ERβ1 subcutaneous tumour models. Our data indicated that ERβ1 increased the anticancer efficacy of GEN in MCF-7 cells by affecting cell cycle transition.

Conclusion

As a result, GEN could be a potential therapeutic agent for ERβ1-positive cancer.

The small heat shock protein B8 (HSPB8) modulates proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the major causes of cancer death in women and is closely related to hormonal dysregulation. Estrogen receptor (ER)-positive BCs are generally treated with anti hormone therapy using antiestrogens or aromatase inhibitors. However, BC cells may become resistant to endocrine therapy, a process facilitated by autophagy, which may either promote or suppress tumor expansion. The autophagy facilitator HSPB8 has been found overexpressed in some BC. Here we found that HSPB8 is highly expressed and differentially modulated by natural or synthetic selective ER modulators (SERMs), in the triple-positive hormone-sensitive BC (MCF-7) cells, but not in triple-negative MDA-MB-231 BC cells. Specific SERMs induced MCF-7 cells proliferation in a HSPB8 dependent manner whereas, did not modify MDA-MB-231 cell growth. ER expression was unaffected in HSPB8-depleted MCF-7 cells. HSPB8 over-expression did not alter the distribution of MCF-7 cells in the various phases of the cell cycle. Conversely and intriguingly, HSPB8 downregulation resulted in an increased number of cells resting in the G0/G1 phase, thus possibly reducing the ability of the cells to pass through the restriction point. In addition, HSPB8 downregulation reduced the migratory ability of MCF-7 cells. None of these modifications were observed, when another small HSP (HSPB1), also expressed in MCF-7 cells, was downregulated. In conclusion, our data suggest that HSPB8 is involved in the mechanisms that regulate cell cycle and cell migration in MCF-7 cells.

Risks and benefits related to alimentary exposure to xenoestrogens

Xenoestrogens are widely diffused in the environment and in food, thus a large portion of human population worldwide is exposed to them. Among alimentary xenoestrogens, phytoestrogens (PhyEs) are increasingly being consumed because of their potential health benefits, although there are also important risks associated to their ingestion. Furthermore, other xenoestrogens that may be present in food are represented by other chemicals possessing estrogenic activities, that are commonly defined as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDCs pose a serious health concern since they may cause a wide range of health problems, starting from pre-birth till adult lifelong exposure. We herein provide an overview of the main classes of xenoestrogens, which are classified on the basis of their origin, their structures and their occurrence in the food chain. Furthermore, their either beneficial or toxic effects on human health are discussed in this review.

Interaction Effects between Organochlorine Pesticides and Isoflavones In Vitro and In Vivo

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have caused increasing global concern due to their high toxicity, persistence, bioaccumulation, and significant adverse effects on human health. This study was to explore the interaction effects between OCPs and isoflavones. Six kinds of OCPs and 2 kinds of isoflavones-genistein and daidzein were included to study their effect on MCF-7 cells in vitro. Eighty-one female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to 9 groups according to factorial design to study the interaction effect between isoflavones and γ-HCH. Compared to organochlorine pesticides alone group, proliferation rate of MCF-7 cells was lower in 100 μmol/L genistein + organochlorine pesticides and 100 μmol/L daidzein + organochlorine pesticides group (p < 0.05). In vivo study showed that there are interaction effects on kidney weight and liver weight when treated with isoflavones and γ-HCH. The changes in uterine morphology and positive expression of ERα showed inhibition effects between isoflavones and γ-HCH. In conclusion, the data suggests that there are interactions between isoflavones and OCPs in vitro and in vivo.

Chemoprevention of Breast Cancer by Dietary Polyphenols

The review will discuss in detail the effects of polyphenols on breast cancer, including both the advantages and disadvantages of the applications of these natural compounds. First, we focus on the characterization of the main classes of polyphenols and then on in vitro and in vivo experiments carried out in breast cancer models. Since the therapeutic effects of the administration of a single type of polyphenol might be limited because of the reduced bioavailability of these drugs, investigations on combination of several polyphenols or polyphenols with conventional therapy will also be discussed. In addition, we present recent data focusing on clinical trials with polyphenols and new approaches with nanoparticles in breast cancer. Besides the clinical and translational findings this review systematically summarizes our current knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of anti-cancer effects of polyphenols, which are related to apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, plasma membrane receptors, signaling pathways and epigenetic mechanisms. At the same time the effects of polyphenols on primary tumor, metastasis and angiogenesis in breast cancer are discussed. The increasing enthusiasm regarding the combination of polyphenols and conventional therapy in breast cancer might lead to additional efforts to motivate further research in this field.

Inhibitory Effect of Genistein on PLC/PRF5 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line

BACKGROUND

Natural compounds including flavonoids like genistein (GE) are able to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. GE is the main representative of these groups. GE inhibits carcinogenic tumors such as colon, stomach, lung, and pancreas tumors. The aim of the present study was to analyze the apoptotic effect of GE in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) PLC/PRF5 cell line.

METHODS

Cells were treated with various doses of GE (1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100 μM/L) at different times (24, 48, and 72 h) and the MTT assay was commonly used. Furthermore, cells were treated with single dose of GE (25 μM) at different times and flow cytometry was performed.

RESULTS

GE inhibited the growth of liver cancer cells significantly with a time- and dose-dependent manner. The percentage of living cells in GE treatment groups with a concentration of 25 μM at different times were 53, 48 and 47%, respectively (P < 0.001). Result of flow cytometry demonstrated that GE at a 25 μM concentration induces apoptosis significantly in a time-dependent manner. The percentage of apoptotic cells at different times were 44, 56, and 60%, respectively (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

GE can significantly inhibit the growth of HCC cells and plays a significant role in apoptosis of this cell line.

Impact of Nutrition on Non-Coding RNA Epigenetics in Breast and Gynecological Cancer

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in females. According to the American Cancer Society, there are 327,660 new cases in breast and gynecological cancers estimated in 2014, placing emphasis on the need for cancer prevention and new cancer treatment strategies. One important approach to cancer prevention involves phytochemicals, biologically active compounds derived from plants. A variety of studies on the impact of dietary compounds found in cruciferous vegetables, green tea, and spices like curry and black pepper have revealed epigenetic changes in female cancers. Thus, an important emerging topic comprises epigenetic changes due to the modulation of non-coding RNA levels. Since it has been shown that non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs are aberrantly expressed in cancer, and furthermore are linked to distinct cancer phenotypes, understanding the effects of dietary compounds and supplements on the epigenetic modulator non-coding RNA is of great interest. This article reviews the current findings on nutrition-induced changes in breast and gynecological cancers at the non-coding RNA level.