Abstract:
Objective To explore the effect of genistein on angiogenesis in HER-2/neu-overex pressing breast cancer and the relationship with vascular endothelial growth factor.
Methods HER-2/neu-over expressing MCF-7 human breast cancer cells(MCF-7/HER-2)were generated by gene transfecting technique.MCF-7/HER-2 cells and MCF-7 cells were injected into BAL B/c nude mice. The nude mice with MCF-7/HER-2 xenograft were randomly divided into three groups: control group, genistein-treated group and HER-2/neu antibody-treated group. Microvessel density and VEGF expression exchang in xenograft tumors were analyzed with immunohistochemical staining.
Results Micro vessel density(MVD)and VEGF expression were significantly higher in MCF-7/HER-2 xenograft tumors than that in MCF-7 xenograft tumors.MCF-7/HER-2 xenog raft tumors treated by genistein or HER-2/neu antibody showed lower MVD and VEGF expression as compared with MCF-7/HER-2 xenograft tumors.
Conclusion The overexpression of HER-2/neu could promote angiogenesis in breast cancer, and genistein could inhibit angiogenesis in HER-2/neu-overexpressing breast cancer through down-regulation expression of VEGF.