Chemoprevention of N‐Nitroso‐N‐methylurea‐induced Rat Mammary Carcinogenesis by Soy Foods or Biochanin A

We examined the effects of soybeans, a soy product (miso) and biochanin A, an isoflavone derivative, on N‐nitroso‐N‐methylurea (MNU)‐induced rat mammary carcinogenesis. Seven‐week‐old female CD/Crj rats received a single i.v. dose (40 mg/kg body weight) of MNU. After administration of MNU, rats were fed diet containing 0% (control), 2% or 10% soybeans, or 10% miso as a soy‐supplemented diet, or 10 or 50 mg/kg biochanin A. All rats were observed for 18 weeks after MNU administration. At 18 weeks, the multiplicity (mean tumors/rat) of palpable mammary tumors was significantly decreased in the 10% soybean (1.1) and 10% miso (1.2) diet groups compared to the control (2.2) (P<0.05, respectively). In the biochanin A‐supplemented diet groups, the incidence (percentage of rats with tumors) was significantly decreased in the 50 mg/kg (32%) diet group compared to the control (80%) (P<0.01), and the multiplicity was significantly decreased in both the 10 mg/kg (0.7) and 50 mg/kg (0.5) diet groups compared to the control (2.2) (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). The proliferative cell nuclear antigen labeling index of mammary tumors was significantly decreased in both biochanin A‐supplemented diet groups compared to the control. The present results indicate that soybeans, miso, and biochanin A are useful for the prevention of mammary cancer.