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The aim of this study was to identify genomic aberrations in endometrial cancer cells treated with the phyto-estrogenic compounds tectorigenin, irigenin and apigenin and to compare with those treated with beta-estradiol using array-based comparative genomic hybridisation (array CGH). The microarray contains 287 targets and includes telomeres, microdeletions, oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes and has increased mapping resolution compared to conventional CGH. An endometrial cancer cell line (Ishikawa) was cultured and treated with the phyto-estrogens. Treated cells were examined using the CGH microarray. Over 20 % of the array genes were aberrated in the cells treated with beta-estradiol, tectorigenin and irigenin compared to 3 % in those treated with the same concentration of apigenin. Protein kinase c zeta form, insulin, insulin receptor and protein-tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor-type 1 which are involved in insulin metabolism were aberrated by tectorigenin and irigenin. Apigenin may play a role in the treatment of endometrial cancer and in the treatment of postmenopausal women. Further studies in normal endometrium and primary endometrial cancer cells are needed to elucidate the role of the phyto-estrogens.
O’Toole et al. (Sun,) studied this question.