Volume 59, Issue S22 p. 181-187
Article

Rationale for the use of genistein-containing soy matrices in chemoprevention trials for breast and prostate cancer

Stephen Barnes PhD

Corresponding Author

Stephen Barnes PhD

Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294

Department of Pharmacology, University of Alabama, Birmingham Medical Center, Volker Hall, Department of Phamacology and Biochemistry, 1670 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294-0019Search for more papers by this author
T. Greg Peterson Bs

T. Greg Peterson Bs

Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294

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Lori Coward Bs

Lori Coward Bs

Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294

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First published: 1995
Citations: 188

Abstract

Pharmacologists have realized that tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have potential as anticancer agents, both in prevention and therapy protocols. Nonetheless, concern about the risk of toxicity caused by synthetic TKIs restricted their development as chemoprevention agents. However, a naturally occurring TKI (the isoflavone genistein) in soy was discovered in 1987. The concentration of genistein in most soy food materials ranges from 1–2 mg/g. Oriental populations, who have low rates of breast and prostate cancer, consume 20–80 mg of genistein/day, almost entirely derived from soy, whereas the dietary intake of genisteinin in the US is only 1–3 mg/day. Chronic use of genistein as a chemopreventive agent has an advantage over synthetic TKIs because it is naturally found in soy foods. It could be delivered either in a purified state as a pill (to high-risk, motivated patient groups), or in the form of soy foods or soy-containing foods. Delivery of genistein in soy foods is more economically viable ($1.50 for a daily dose of 50 mg) than purified material ($5/day) and would require no prior approval by the FDA. Accordingly, investigators at several different sites have begun or are planning chemoprevention trials using a soy beverage product based on SUPROTM, an isolated soy protein manufactured by Protein Technologies International of St. Louis, MO. These investigators are examining the effect of the soy beverage on surrogate intermediate endpoint biomarkers (SIEBs) in patients at risk for breast and colon cancer, defining potential SIEBs in patients at risk for prostate cancer, and determining whether the soy beverage reduces the incidence of cancer recurrence. These studies will provide the basis for formal Phase I, Phase II and Phase III clinical trials of genistein and soy food products such as SUPROTM for cancer chemoprevention.

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