February 2008: A comparison of three methods of minimally invasive endoscopic staging found that ultrasound-guided endobronchial and transesophageal fine-needle aspiration, or a combination, provided accurate staging of the mediastinum, Michael B. Wallace, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic here, and colleagues reported in the Feb. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Journal of the American Medical Association Source reference: Wallace M, et al "Minimally invasive endoscopic staging of suspected lung cancer" JAMA 2008; 299: 540-546. p53-Independent Apoptosis Induced by Genistein in Lung Cancer Cells Fangru Lian, Yiwei Li, Mahbubur Bhuiyan, Fazlul H. Sarkar. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world, with increasing incidence in many developed countries. Epidemiological data suggest that consumption of soy products may be associated with a decreased risk of cancer. Despite the association of nutrition and cancer, the molecular mechanisms by which the active metabolite in the soy diet, genistein, exerts its biological response have not been studied. We previously showed that genistein can inhibit the growth of H460 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in vitro. To explore the molecular mechanisms by which genistein inhibits the growth of NSCLC cells, we investigated cell growth inhibition, modulation in gene expression, and induction of apoptosis by genistein in H460 cells, which harbor wild-type p53, and H322 cells, which possess mutated p53. Genistein was found to inhibit H460 and H322 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Staining with 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, and flow cytometric apoptosis analysis were used to investigate apoptotic cell death, and the results show that 30 µM genistein causes cell death via a typical apoptotic pathway. Western blot analysis demonstrated upregulations of p21WAF1 and Bax by genistein in wild-type and mutant p53 cell lines. Furthermore, cells treated with genistein showed an increased expression of endogenous wild-type p53, while the level of the mutant p53 protein remained unchanged. From these results, we conclude that genistein induces apoptosis in NSCLC cells through a p53-independent pathway and, thus, may act as an anticancer agent. [Nutrition and Cancer 33(2):125-131, 1999. © 1999 Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.] Ann's NOTE: These researchers have found that genistein is causing NSCLC cells to die. This is what we want. They do not know why. They suggest more study. Here is where patients interested in alternative therapies take a leap of faith. I would start using GENISTEIN, in fact I would use SOY in its natural form as well. It could be years before scientists work out why. As a patient, we cannot care about that as much as the results. |
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