| Genistein: Does it Prevent or Promote Breast Cancer? Kerrie B. Bouker and Leena Hilakivi-Clarke Department of Oncology, Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA Abstract
Diet is estimated to contribute to approximately 50% of all newly diagnosed breast cancers. As such, a search for dietary factors differentially consumed among populations with increased breast cancer risk (e.g., Caucasians) compared to those with low risk (e.g., Asians) has become a priority. One such dietary component, which is typical to the Asian but not the Caucasian diet, is soy. We review data relevant to attempts to determine whether soy, and more specifically genistein, is a dietary component that may help to explain the dramatic disparity in breast cancer risk among these populations. Key words: antiproliferative effects, breast cancer, estrogenic effects, genistein. Environ Health Perspect 108:701-708 (2000) . [Online 23 June 2000] http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2000/108p701-708bouker/ abstract.html Address correspondence to L. Hilakivi-Clarke, Lombardi Cancer Center, Research Building, Room W405, Georgetown University, 3970 Reservoir Rd., NW, Washington DC 20007 USA. Telephone: (202) 687-7237. Fax: (202) 687-7505. E-mail: clarkel@gunet.georgetown.edu This work was supported by grants from the American Cancer Society (RPG-99-059-01-CNE) , the Cancer Research Foundation of America, the American Institute for Cancer Research, the U.S. Department of Defense [DAMD 17-99-1-9196 (to L.H-C.) and DAMD 17-99-1-9189 (to K.B.) ] and Lombardi (T32 CA-09686) . Received 7 December 1999 ; accepted 11 April 2000.
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