植物雌激素真的能够治疗乳腺癌吗?

Can phytoestrogens really cure breast cancer?

植物雌激素是一类动物雌激素的类似物,作为一种双向的雌激素受体(estrogen receptor,ER)调节剂,能够有效地预防女性心血管疾病、改善更年期骨质疏松症及其他症状。植物雌激素与乳腺癌发生、发展的关系是一个被广泛关注的问题。至今,已经进行了大量的体外实验、动物实验和流行病学调查研究,但结果莫衷一是。哈佛大学的Duffy教授及其同事在《临床医师肿瘤杂志》(CA Cancer J Clin)发表文章,综述了植物雌激素与乳腺癌的关系,结论是:植物雌激素对乳腺癌的作用没有定论。我们认为Duffy等的结论与未充分考虑到ER的状态(表达水平、亚型比例、基因的多态性以及细胞内的分布)有关。植物雌激素通过ER发挥作用,因此,在评价植物雌激素的作用时,必须要考虑ER的状态。

Phytoestrogens are a family of analogues of animal estrogen. As bidirectional mediators of ER （estrogen receptor）, phytoestrogens are efficiently protective for females against cardiovascular diseases, and to ameliorate climacteric osteoporosis, as well as other symptoms. The relationship between phytoestrogens and breast caner is a question of public interest. Up to now, many experiments in vitro, animal experiments, and epidemic trials have been performed, however, there are discrepancies. Professor Duffy and colleagues from Harvard University published a literature in the Journal of CA. They reviewed the association between phytoestrogen and breast cancer, highlighting the uncertain effects of phytoestrogen on breast cancer. In our opinion, the conclusion of Duffy et al. is due to their neglect of ER status. Phytoestrogen functions via ER, thus the status of ER （expression levels, subtype ratio, polymorphism, and intracellular distribution） should be taken into account while evaluating effects of phytoestrogen.