Overturning previous information that women under breast cancer treatment should not consume soy-rich foods because they may interfere with treatment, a new study suggests that it is okay to eat soya-based foods as it may reduce the risk for the cancer to reoccur in the future.
Previous body of knowledge states that women undergoing anti-estrogen treatment are advised not to eat soya-based foods because they might interfere with the treatment. However, a new study shows that in animals, long-term intake of soy foods has increased their immune response against breast cancer. As a result, it reduces the risk for relapse or cancer recurrence.
"I am concerned that some patients may start taking soy supplements when they shouldn't and that others will stop eating soy foods when they could really benefit from them," says the study's lead investigator, Leena Hilakivi-Clarke, PhD, professor of Oncology at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, as reported by NDTV.
In the past, scientists and experts believed that soy specifically genistein, can stimulate the growth of cancer cells in the breast and may alter the anti-estrogen treatment. These were based on previous studies in mice which have no immune cells capable of attacking breast tumor cells.
However, the researchers discovered that if these mice would be given soy specifically its active ingredients before puberty, they could establish their T cell immune response before they could start treatment with anti-estrogen therapy, Science Daily reports.
Hence, the author noted, "Our results suggest that genistein's ability to activate anti-tumor immune responses and reduce expression of immunosuppressive mechanisms may explain why lifetime genistein intake reduces risk of breast cancer recurrence."
"This and our earlier work suggest it is okay to continue consuming soyfoods during breast cancer treatment. Whether this is because of our finding related to the immune, we can't say conclusively," they concluded.