Diet, Stem Cells, and Breast Cancer Prevention
Abstract
Breast cancer is considered to be initiated by mutations in a limited population of undifferentiated cells termed stem cells that ?sit? at the top of the mammary epithelial hierarchy. Over-expansion of the stem cell population leads to increased numbers of mutated stem cells that initiate and maintain tumors that eventually metastasize. Novel strategies to decrease the proliferation and promote the elimination of tumor-initiating stem cells are warranted. Our current studies test the hypothesis that dietary factors confer protection from breast cancer by preventing the expansion of stem/progenitor cells with tumorigenic potential. We established female mice transgenic for the oncogene Wnt-1, which develop tumors, as a model system for dietary prevention of mammary carcinogenesis. Mice were fed AIN-93G based isocaloric diets that differed only by protein source, namely casein (CAS) and soy protein isolate (SPI). SPI was used as a paradigm for healthy foods, given the linkage of decreased breast cancer incidence with high consumption of soy-rich foods. We found that dietary exposure to SPI resulted in lower tumor incidence in Wnt-Tg female mice. Studies are in progress to isolate and characterize stem cells from tumors of Tg mice fed the two diets to evaluate the basis for the tumor protection.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA511920
Entities
People
- Rosalia C. Simmen
Organizations
- Arkansas Children's Hospital