The inhibitory effect of genistein on the growth and metastasis of a transplantable rat accessory sex gland carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
A cell line (K1) derived from a carcinogen-induced accessory sex gland carcinoma was used to examine the effects of the soybean extract, genistein, on tumor growth and metastasis.


METHODS
Male Lobund-Wistar rats were injected s.c. with 20 million K1 cells; genistein (50 mg/kg BW) or the vehicle was administered s.c. every 12 h for 31 days.


RESULTS
Genistein significantly inhibited tumor growth. Compared with controls, fewer genistein-treated rats developed invasive tumors (11% vs. 44%) or lymph node metastases (44% vs. 89%). No lung metastases were found in genistein-treated animals in contrast to controls (0% vs. 44%). Estrogenic side effects were precipitated in genistein-treated rats, including decreased accessory sex gland complex weight, increased pituitary weight, decreased testis weight, and decreased (BW). Serum testosterone was undetectable and serum prostate-specific acid phosphatase activity was 38% lower in genistein-treated rats compared with controls. Genistein concentrations in the solid tumors (2 nmol/g) were one-third those in blood.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that genistein may be a useful chemotherapeutic agent to inhibit the growth and metastasis of accessory sex gland cancers, such as those derived from the prostate.
Schleicher
R L
RL
Research Service, VAMC (Atlanta), Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, GA 30322, USA. zwa5@cdc.gov
Lamartiniere
C A
CA
Zheng
M
M
Zhang
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D019833:Genistein / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D013739:Testosterone; D019833:Genistein