| Isolating Copper; a Soy Secret? |
| Monday, 20 December 2010 18:59 | |||
 Everywhere USA, December 2010 — Research recently being done suggests that genistein, an isoflavone, or antioxidant receptor found in several plants, including soybeans, blocks the growth and development of cancer cell lines in a dose-and time-dependent manner due to its ability to target copper and generating a signal that targets cancer cells. Copper levels are known to be elevated in almost all types of cancers.
The researchers, writing in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, believe that such a mechanism explains the anti-cancer effect of genistein and also its preferential prevention of cell division towards cancer cells. From this they have estimated that more than two-thirds of human cancers could be prevented through appropriate lifestyle modification, including dietary habits. Epidemiological studies have suggested that those with high isoflavone intake, through soy consumption, have lower rates of breast, prostate, and colon cancer. Isoflavone genistein found in soybeans has previously been considered a potent chemo-preventive agent against cancer. The researchers noted that the anti-cancer effects of genistein have been demonstrated against cancer models, both in vitro and in vivo. “Although several mechanisms have been proposed, a clear anticancer action mechanism of genistein is still not known,” said the authors. It is known that copper transporters are over-expressed in malignant cells, which aid the uptake and accumulation of copper. The researchers said the reason for increased copper concentration in tumors is not clearly understood, but noted that copper might be required for the expression of ceruloplasmin – a major copper-binding protein also elevated in cancer cells – which has been proposed to be an angiogenic (a protein on the surface of a cell) stimulator. The researchers concluded their comments by stating that their study identifies endogenous copper (having no external cause) as a novel molecular target for the cytotoxic action of genistein against cancer cells. SOURCE: Molecular Nutrition & Food Research; Nutraingredients
|
