Biotransformed soybean extract induces cell death of estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells by modulation of apoptotic proteins.

The process of soybean biotransformation increases the quantity of isoflavones (daidzein and genistein), which besides being considered an alternative to estroprogestive hormone replacement therapy (HRT), are able of hindering the growth and development of tumor cells. We investigated the effects of soybean extract biotransformed by fungus on estrogen-dependent (MCF-7) and nondependent (SK-BR-3) breast cell lines. Cells were treated with different concentrations of biotransformed (BSE) and nonbiotransformed soybean extract (SE), or daidzein (D) and genistein (G) patterns isolated and in combination (D + G). Afterwards, we analyzed cell viability by MTT assay, phosphatidylserine exposure and cell permeability by flow cytometry; expression of apoptotic proteins by Western blotting. BSE promoted reduction in cell viability and increase in DNA degradation in both cell lines. In addition, we verified increase in cell permeability and in the expression of phosphatidylserine, as well as modulation in the expression of apoptotic proteins in MCF-7 cells. The cells did not show any signs of cell death when incubated with the controls (D, G, and D + G). Unknown components found in the BSE induce cell death by apoptosis and necrosis, mainly in MCF-7 cells. These processes depend on the activation of caspase-3 and involve an increase in the expression of proapoptotic molecules.

Comparative study of the effects of combined oral contraceptives in hemostatic variables: an observational preliminary study.

Thrombotic risk is associated with the estrogen dose and type of progestin in combined oral contraceptives. Studies published since 1990 showed that third-generation progestins have larger risk to contribute to thrombosis development than the second-generation. However, there are conflicts in the literature regarding the thrombotic risk associated to the drospirenone progestin. So, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of 3 formulations of contraceptives containing ethinylestradiol (EE) (20 and 30 µg) combined with drospirenone versus levonorgestrel combined with EE (30 µg) in hemostatic parameters. This cross-sectional study included 70 healthy women between 18 and 30 years, BMI 19 to 30 kg/m², not pregnant, non-smokers, and users or non-users (control) of contraceptives for a minimum period of 6 months. The following parameters were assessed: prothrombin time (PT), Factor VII, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), Factor XII, fibrinogen, Factor 1 + 2, Protein C, Protein S, antithrombin, D-dimers, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Significant alterations were found in PT, aPTT, fibrinogen, D-dimers, and protein S, all favoring a state of hypercoagulation for contraceptive containing DRSP/20EE. Both contraceptives containing DRSP/30EE and LNG/30EE promoted changes that favor the hypercoagulability in the coagulant variable PT and in the anticoagulant variables Protein S and Protein C, respectively. We suggest that the progestin drospirenone can contribute to an inadequate balance among procoagulant, anticoagulant, and fibrinolytic factors, since that the contraceptive containing the lowest dose of estrogen and drospirenone (DRSP/20EE) caused a higher number of hemostatic changes.