Inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation, in vitro angiogenesis, and the down-regulation of cell adhesion-related genes by genistein. Combined with a cDNA microarray analysis.

Antiangiogenesis is presently one of the powerful strategies for treating cancer, and endothelial cells play a pivotal role in the process of angiogenesis. Genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, a major isoflavone plentiful in soybeans, is known to inhibit both tumor growth and angiogenesis. However, the precise molecular mechanism(s) by which genistein affects endothelial cells has yet to be elucidated.