[Genistein induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and T47D cells].

Dietary genistein, a natural flavone compound found in soy, has been proposed to be related to the lower prevalence of breast cancer in Asian women. In order to elucidate the mechanism of chemopreventive effect of genistein so that to provide more scientific basis for dietary intervention for breast cancer in women, the apoptosis in estrogen responsive breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and T47D cells) was induced as the study model and the effect of genistein on the apoptosis was observed. The results showed that, functionally similar to the anti-estrogen tamoxifen, genistein induced in a dose- and time-dependent manner the MCF-7 cell apoptosis at concentrations above 20 x 10(-6) mol/L. The findings suggested that the increased isoflavone intake can induce apoptosis in estrogen responsive cells.