Soy isoflavones may be effective against prostate cancer

According to the results of a new study conducted by the University of California, men who are at risk of prostate cancer can include more soy products such as tofu and soy milk in their diets, reports Foods for the Future. Dr. Ralph deVere White, director of the University of California at Davis Cancer Center​, presented the study at a meeting of the American Urological Association and said that, although the initial tests were conducted on mice and need to be replicated on humans, "we are encouraged by these results."​ The soy compound genistein, an isoflavone, slowed prostate growth in the test mice and caused prostate cancer cells to die. "We have identified the mechanisms by which genistein may work in prostate cancer,"​ Dr. White said. "While we are encouraged by these results, we need to test genistein in patients with prostate cancer to be certain of its effectiveness."​ Dr. White and a team of researchers now are evaluating the effects of genistein in men who have been diagnosed with slow-growing prostate cancer. The University of California at Davis Cancer Center will enroll 70 men in a pilot study to determine whether genistein can lower prostate specific antigen, a tumour marker widely used to find prostate cancer. Dr. White said it is unlikely that genistein alone can be used as a singular treatment for prostate cancer, which is the most common cancer among American men, but that he hopes genistein can be used with conventional anti- cancer therapy or preventive drug to combat prostate cancer. Source: Foods for the Future