The effects of short-term genistein intervention on prostate biomarker expression in patients with localised prostate cancer before radical prostatectomy.

Nutritionally relevant levels of genistein, the predominant isoflavone in soyabean associated with lower risk of prostate cancer (PCa), may modulate the expression of prostate tissue biomarkers associated with cancer prediction and progression. A phase 2 placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind clinical trial was conducted in forty-seven Norwegian patients before prostatectomy. Intervention was 30 mg genistein or placebo capsules daily for 3-6 weeks. Luminal cells from malignant and benign glands were isolated with laser capture microdissection and the mRNA levels of androgen-related biomarkers (androgen receptor, NK3 homeobox 1, kallikrein-related peptide 4 (KLK4)) and cell cycle-related genes (p21 Waf1/Cip1 , p27 Kip1 , p53) were analysed with real-time semiquantitative PCR. Immunohistochemistry of androgen-, cell cycle-, proliferative- (Ki67 nuclear antigen), apoptotic- (B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) and BCL-2-associated X protein) and neuroendocrine differentiation-related biomarkers (neuron-specific enolase and cytoplasmic chromogranin A) was performed using tissue microarrays containing normal, Gleason grade 3 and grade 4 prostate tissues. There were no significant effects by genistein intervention on proliferation-, cell cycle-, apoptosis- or neuroendocrine biomarkers. Genistein intervention, however, significantly reduced the mRNA level of KLK4 in tumour cells (P = 0·033) and there was a non-significant reduction in androgen and cell cycle-related biomarkers, except for p27Kip1, whose expression in the nuclear compartment was increased. Genistein intervention modulated the expression of several biomarkers which may be related to PCa prediction and progression. The present study supports genistein as a chemopreventive agent in PCa. Further investigation is warranted in larger and longer-duration studies.

Efficacy and safety of short-term genistein intervention in patients with localized prostate cancer prior to radical prostatectomy: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind Phase 2 clinical trial.

We conducted a placebo-controlled, block-randomized double-blind Phase 2 study to examine the effect of 30 mg synthetic genistein daily on serum and tissue biomarkers in patients with localized prostate cancer (CaP). Fifty-four study subjects were recruited and randomized to treatment with genistein (n = 23) or placebo (n = 24) for 3 to 6 wk prior to prostatectomy. Seven study subjects were noncompliant to the study protocol. Adverse events were few and mild. Serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) decreased by 7.8% in the genistein arm and increased by 4.4% in the placebo arm (P = 0.051). The PSA level was reduced in tumor tissue compared to normal tissue in the placebo arm. In the genistein arm, the PSA level in tumor and normal tissue was comparable. Total cholesterol was significantly lower in the genistein arm (P = 0.013). There were no significant effects on thyroid or sex hormones. Plasma concentrations of total genistein were on average 100-fold higher in the genistein arm after treatment (P < 0.001). Genistein at a dose that can be easily obtained from a diet rich in soy reduced the level of serum PSA in patients with localized CaP, without any effects on hormones. It was well tolerated and had a beneficial effect on blood cholesterol.

Genistein differentially modulates androgen-responsive gene expression and activates JNK in LNCaP cells.

Genistein, the predominant isoflavone in soy, may be chemopreventive in prostate cancer (CaP). It down-regulates the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and androgen receptor (AR) in androgen responsive cells. However, the extent of the down-regulation and whether genistein has a general effect on all androgen responsive genes (ARGs) are unclear. We investigated the ability of genistein to modulate ARG expression by the synthetic androgen R1881 in LNCaP cells. Given that there is important crosstalk between AR and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, we also investigated whether genistein activates the MAPK end targets c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and c-Jun. Changes in ARG expression were determined by Western analysis and semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The activation of JNK and c-Jun was investigated by Western analysis and a solid phase kinase assay. The PSA protein and mRNA expression were both down-regulated by genistein. In contrast, KLK4 was up-regulated at the mRNA, but down-regulated at the protein level. NKX3.1 mRNA levels did not change significantly, but protein levels were significantly down-regulated. STAMP2 mRNA levels slightly increased whereas the protein expression was down-regulated. The AR mRNA expression changed significantly only at high concentrations of genistein when it was down-regulated, whereas AR protein levels were decreased at low concentrations of genistein. The solid phase kinase assay indicated a transient activation of JNK by genistein, which was supported by Western analysis. Thus genistein differentially modulates ARG mRNA expression, but has an inhibitory role on the ARG protein levels. The activation of the JNK pathway which inhibits AR signaling may provide a mechanism for the overall inhibition of protein levels.