Molecular basis of the anti-cancer effects of genistein isoflavone in LNCaP prostate cancer cells | Functional Foods in Health and Disease - Online ISSN: 2160-3855; Print ISSN: 2378-7007 Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer Open Menu Functional Foods in Health and Disease - Online ISSN: 2160-3855; Print ISSN: 2378-7007 Home Food Science Publisher Functional Food Center Current Archives About About the Journal Aims and Scope Contact Editing Services Editorial Team Express Peer Review Graphical Abstract Journal Insights Privacy Statement Submissions Announcements Search Search Register Login Home / Archives / Vol. 1 No. 3 (2011): March 2011 / Research Articles Molecular basis of the anti-cancer effects of genistein isoflavone in LNCaP prostate cancer cells Authors K. Merchant College of Health Sciences, Barry University, 11300 NE 2nd Ave Miami Shores FL 33161 J. Kumi-Diaka Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 3200 College Ave Davie FL 33314 A. Rathinavelu Rumbaugh Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research, Nova Southeastern University, Plantation Fl, 33322 N. Esiobu Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 3200 College Ave Davie FL 33314 R. Zoeller Department of Health & Exercise Sci, Florida Atlantic University, 3200 College Ave Davie FL 33314 J. Hartmann Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 3200 College Ave Davie FL 33314 M. Johnson Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 3200 College Ave Davie FL 33314 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31989/ffhd.v1i3.137 Abstract Background: Prostate cancer is the most common form of non-skin cancer within the United States and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Survival rates for the advanced disease remain relatively low, and conventional treatments may be accompanied by significant side effects. As a result, current research is aimed at alternative or adjuvant treatments that will target components of the signal transduction, cell-cycle and apoptosis pathways, to induce cell death with little or no toxic side effects to the patient. In this study, we investigated the effect of genistein isoflavone, a soy derivative, on expression levels of genes involved in these pathways. The mechanism of genistein-induced cell death was also investigated. The chemosensitivity of the LNCaP prostate cancer cells to genistein was investigated using ATP and MTS assays, and a caspase binding assay was used to determine apoptosis induction. Several molecular targets were determined using cDNA microarray and RT-PCR analysis. Results: The overall data revealed that genistein induces cell death in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and regulates expression levels of several genes involved in carcinogenesis and immunity. Several cell-cycle genes were down-regulated, including the mitotic kinesins, cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases. Various members of the Bcl-2 family of apoptotic proteins were also affected. The DefB1 and the HLA membrane receptor genes involved in immunogenicity were also up-regulated.  Conclusion: The results indicate that genistein inhibits growth of the hormone-dependent prostate cancer cells, LNCaP, via apoptosis induction through regulation of some of the genes involved in carcinogenesis of many tumors, and immunogenicity. This study augments the potential phytotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic significance of genistein isoflavone. Key words: Genistein isoflavone, prostate cancer, expression of genes, phytotherapeutic adjuvant, immunotherapy and chemotherapy Downloads [Abstract] [Full Article] Published 2011-03-31 Issue Vol. 1 No. 3 (2011): March 2011 Section Research Articles License Authors retain the copyright of their articles and grant the Functional Food Center (FFC) and its journals the right of first publication under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, including commercial use, provided the original author(s) and source are properly credited. Authors may post and share their published work freely, provided that the original publication in this journal is acknowledged. By submitting to this journal, authors confirm that their manuscripts are original, not under consideration elsewhere, and that they hold the necessary rights to grant this license. The Functional Food Center encourages open scientific exchange and allows derivative and extended works, provided attribution to the original publication is maintained. About the Journal      Editing Services      Graphical Abstract      Journal Insights        Submissions        Editorial Team       Privacy Statement        Contact        Current        Archives   Open Journal Systems Hosting and Support by: OpenJournalSystems.com