Genome-wide DNA methylation modified by soy phytoestrogens: role for epigenetic therapeutics in prostate cancer?

In prostate cancer, DNA methylation is significantly associated with tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. Previous studies have suggested that soy phytoestrogens might regulate DNA methylation at individual candidate gene loci and that they play a crucial role as potential therapeutic agents for prostate cancer. The purpose of our study was to examine the modulation effects of phytoestrogens on a genome-wide scale in regards to DNA methylation in prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer: The main risk and protective factors-Epigenetic modifications.

With 13 million new cases worldwide every year, prostate cancer is as a very real public health concern. Prostate cancer is common in over-50s men and the sixth-leading cause of cancer-related death in men worldwide. Like all cancers, prostate cancer is multifactorial - there are non-modifiable risk factors like heredity, ethnicity and geographic location, but also modifiable risk factors such as diet.

Comparative effects of soy phytoestrogens and 17β-estradiol on DNA methylation of a panel of 24 genes in prostate cancer cell lines.

Major phytoestrogens genistein and daidzein have been reported to have the ability to reverse DNA methylation in cancer cell lines. The mechanism by which genistein and daidzein have an inhibiting action on DNA methylation is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of soy phytoestrogens and the natural estrogen 17β-estradiol (E2) to determine whether one of the estrogen receptors is mobilized for the action of these compounds on DNA methylation.

Genistein and daidzein: different molecular effects on prostate cancer.

Diet is believed to play an important role in cancer. It has been revealed by epidemiological studies that Asian populations, who consume phytoestrogens in large amounts, have a lower incidence of prostate cancer in comparison with the Western world, where consumption of soy is lower. Genistein and daidzein, the soy phytoestrogens most widely studied, are believed to be potent anticancer agents and have been shown to possess anticancer properties.

DNA methylation and soy phytoestrogens: quantitative study in DU-145 and PC-3 human prostate cancer cell lines.

Aim: DNA hypermethylation is an epigenetic mechanism which induces silencing of tumor-suppressor genes in prostate cancer. Many studies have reported that specific components of food plants like soy phytoestrogens may have protective effects against prostate carcinogenesis or progression. Genistein and daidzein, the major phytoestrogens, have been reported to have the ability to reverse DNA hypermethylation in cancer cell lines.

miRNAs differentially expressed in prostate cancer cell lines after soy treatment.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that have aberrant expression in prostate cancer tissues. miRNAs are involved in the initiation and progression of cancer, and several miRNAs have been characterized as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. It has been shown that some miRNAs can be directly regulated from their own promoters by epigenetic alterations in cancer cells.

BRCA1, BRCA2, AR and IGF-I expression in prostate cancer: correlation between RT-qPCR and immunohistochemical detection.

Identification and characterization of biomarkers in prostate cancer are important for improving the diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine differences in the expression of 4 genes according to the stage of malignancy in prostate cancer. We analyzed BRCA1, BRCA2, androgen receptor (AR) and IGF-I gene expression in a cohort of 98 prostate biopsies.

Soy phytoestrogens modify DNA methylation of GSTP1, RASSF1A, EPH2 and BRCA1 promoter in prostate cancer cells.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of soy phytoestrogens on the methylation of promoter genes in prostate tumors. The incidence of prostate cancer in Asia is thirty percent lower than in Western countries. Since soy phytoestrogens represent a large portion of the Asian diet, evidence suggests their protective effect against prostate cancer.