Soy increases radiation's ability to kill lung cancer cells, study shows

Soy isoflavones block cancer cells' DNA repair mechanisms while protecting normal tissue

2011-04-02

(Press-News.org) A component in soybeans increases radiation's ability to kill lung cancer cells, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the official monthly journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

"To improve radiotherapy for lung cancer cells, we are studying the potential of natural non-toxic components of soybeans, called soy isoflavones, to augment the effect of radiation against the tumor cells and at the same time protect normal lung against radiation injury," said Dr. Gilda Hillman, an associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Wayne State University's School of Medicine and the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit.

"These natural soy isoflavones can sensitize cancer cells to the effects of radiotherapy, by inhibiting survival mechanisms which cancer cells activate to protect themselves," Hillman said. "At the same time, soy isoflavones can also act as antioxidants in normal tissues, which protect them against unintended damage from the radiotherapy. In a recent study, published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, we demonstrated that soy isoflavones increase killing of cancer cells by radiation via blocking DNA repair mechanisms, which are turned on by the cancer cells to survive the damage caused by radiation."

Human A549 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells that were treated with soy isoflavones before radiation showed more DNA damage and less repair activity than cells that received only radiation.

Researchers used a formulation consisting of the three main isoflavones found in soybeans, including genistein, daidzein and glycitein.

Previously, researchers had found that pure genistein demonstrated antitumor activity in human NSCLC cell lines and enhanced the effects of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This study showed that the soy mixture had an even greater antitumor effect than pure genistein. The soy mixture also is consistent with the soy isoflavone pills used in clinical studies, which have been proven to be safe, researchers said.

### The study was supported by the American Institute for Cancer Research.

About the Journal of Thoracic Oncology:

The Journal of Thoracic Oncology (JTO) is the official monthly journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). It is a prized resource for medical specialists and scientists who focus on the detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. It emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach, including original research (clinical trials and translational or basic research), reviews and opinion pieces. To learn more about the JTO please visit http://journals.lww.com/jto/pages/default.aspx.

About IASLC:

The Denver-based International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated to the study of lung cancer. Founded in 1972, the association's membership includes more than 3,000 lung cancer specialists in 80 countries. IASLC members work toward developing and promoting the study of etiology, epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and all other aspects of lung cancer and thoracic malignancies. IASLC members work to enhance the understanding of lung cancer among scientists, members of the medical community and the public. To learn more about the IASLC please visit http://iaslc.org/

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

E. coli an unlikely contaminant of plant vascular systems

2011-04-02

This press release is available in Spanish. A technique developed by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists for tracking pathogens has helped confirm that Escherichia coli is not likely to contaminate the internal vascular structure of field-grown leafy greens and thus increase the incidence of foodborne illness. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) microbiologist Manan Sharma wanted to find out if plant roots could draw in E. coli pathogens from the soil when taking in nutrients and water. He and colleagues modified several types of E. coli-including some ...

Oil prices affect inflation in Spain more than in the euro zone

2011-04-02

Economists from the Bank of Spain's Research Department have published a study on the direct, indirect and 'second time around' effects of oil prices on the economies of Spain and those of the European Monetary Union (EMU). The results show that Spanish inflation reflects oil prices than more directly inflation in the euro area overall. "It affects Spanish inflation more for two reasons. Firstly, because Spaniards spend proportionally more on petrol and diesel than people in other European countries, and also becuase fuel taxes in Spain are lower than in the other countries ...

Choosing the Right Size Breast Implant for Your Body

2011-04-02

Once you have decided to undergo breast augmentation, you will find yourself inundated with many other important choices regarding your new implants. One of the most important decisions you will have to make will deal with the size of your breast implants. Ultimately, this is a highly personal decision, and it is important that you - not your spouse, significant other, friends, or family members - feel comfortable with this decision. Approximately one third of all breast augmentation revision procedures are performed to address dissatisfaction in the breast implant size. ...

Breathalyzer Tests and Problem DUI Enforcement Strategies

2011-04-02

Breathalyzers have gained considerable scrutiny across the United States as more defendants challenge the accuracy of blood alcohol test results. Breathalyzer machines are used by scores of law enforcement agencies to measure the level of alcohol in a person's blood. If a driver's BAC is above .08, he or she could be arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI). Specifically, defendants and advocacy groups have long questioned whether the machines were properly calibrated to accurately measure blood-alcohol content. Last ...

Calculations with 14 quantum bits

2011-04-02

This release is available in German. The term entanglement was introduced by the Austrian Nobel laureate Erwin Schrödinger in 1935, and it describes a quantum mechanical phenomenon that while it can clearly be demonstrated experimentally, is not understood completely. Entangled particles cannot be defined as single particles with defined states but rather as a whole system. By entangling single quantum bits, a quantum computer will solve problems considerably faster than conventional computers. "It becomes even more difficult to understand entanglement when there are ...

New Jersey Rated 2nd in the Nation for Highway Safety Laws

2011-04-02

A report issued in January 2011, rated New Jersey the second safest in the nation, based on the laws designed to promote highway safety. Only the District of Columbia ranked in front of New Jersey. Motor vehicle crashes impose a significant financial burden on society. According to the NHTSA, the total economic cost of motor vehicle crashes in 2000 was more than $230 billion. The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety issued its eighth annual roadmap to state highway safety laws. The report ranks the states on fifteen criteria that promote highway safety: Adult ...

UGA studies explain spread of invasive ladybugs

2011-04-02

Athens, Ga. – A University of Georgia researcher studying invasive ladybugs has developed new models that help explain how these insects have spread so quickly and their potential impacts on native species. In recent years, some people have noticed swarms of ladybugs amassing in the fall, even infesting their homes. These are Asian lady beetles, insects native to eastern Asia, introduced to the U.S. as a biocontrol for aphids and have since spread throughout the country and into Canada. When he found the beetles in his own home, Assistant Research Scientist Richard Hall, ...

US CDC issues updated bloodstream infection prevention guidelines

2011-04-02

New guidelines, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) outline steps to eliminate bloodstream infections in patients with intravenous catheters, which are among the most deadly and costly healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The document, titled "Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections" will be published in its entirety in a special supplement to the American Journal of Infection Control. The Journal will also present a video roundtable ...

Proposed Legislation Would Require Alcohol Monitors for DWI Probation

2011-04-02

Senate Bill 232 -- introduced in November by state senator Jane Nelson and currently being debated by the Criminal Justice Committee of the Texas State Senate -- recommends that every person put on probation following a conviction of driving while intoxicated (DWI) wear an alcohol-sensing monitor. The most common of these monitors is known as a secure continuous remote alcohol monitor (SCRAM). SCRAM bracelets -- manufactured by Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc. -- have gained notoriety due to high-profile DWI cases involving Hollywood celebrities. They are the most common ...

Skywalker ensures optimal communication between neurons

2011-04-02

"I hope that unraveling the way Skywalker works will not only teach us more about the way neurons communicate with each other but will also lead to new diagnostics and therapies for neurological diseases such as Parkinson's," says Verstreken. Communication between brain cells Brain disorders take a major toll on society. More than 8% of the population in the West depends on analgesics. Twenty per cent suffers from a mental disturbance and the number of people suffering from the effects of neurological diseases is estimated at 1 billion. Many of these problems are caused ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

New study finds air pollution increases inflammation primarily in patients with heart disease

AI finds undiagnosed liver disease in early stages

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announce new research fellowship in malaria genomics in honor of professor Dominic Kwiatkowski