Isoflavones in breast cancer chemoprevention: where do we go from here?
Based on the evidence from epidemiological, animal, in vitro data and human clinical trials, it is evident that isoflavones are promising agents for breast cancer chemoprevention. It is also evident that the form of isoflavone used (purified vs soy products), dose of isoflavone used (low vs high), timing and duration of exposure of isoflavones appears to play a major role in determining agonistic or antagonistic effects. Collectively, these isoflavones have enough evidence to warrant use in a number of clinical trials to examine its efficacy as a potential chemopreventive agent for breast cancer. In this comprehensive review, we attempt to summarize the evidence demonstrating the potential use of isoflavones in breast cancer chemoprevention and the rationale to examine a combination of biochemical, morphological and molecular intermediate endpoint biomarkers of breast cancer risk to examine the efficacy of this promising agent.
Kumar
Nagi
N
Department of Nutrition, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, University of South Florida, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, USA. kumar@moffitt.usf.edu
Allen
Kathryn
K
Riccardi
Diane
D
Kazi
Aslamuzzaman
A
Heine
John
J
D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001940:Breast / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D012306:Risk; D013025:Glycine max / Q000378:metabolism; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007529:Isoflavones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013256:Steroids; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex