Phytoestrogens (PEs), estrogen-like plant compounds, can be used in place of traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to relieve postmenopausal symptoms. HRT has been shown to increase breast cancer risk. In vitro, one PE product, Promensil, has been shown to decrease the number of breast cancer cells in culture. From the literature, we found the serum concentrations of four PEs, genistein, biochanin A, formononetin, and daidzein, contained in Promensil and hypothesize that these PEs are responsible for reduced cell numbers at those concentrations. We investigated two of the phytoestrogens on T-47D cells in culture and discovered that at serum concentrations, biochanin A increases cell numbers similar to estrogen while genistein maintains the same cell numbers as untreated controls.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Mbusa, Daniel
• Smith, Ryan
• McFarland, Adelaide
• Su, Jackson

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042722-212059
• 64736

Keyword

• Estrogen Receptors
• Breast Cancer Cells
• Cell Proliferation
• Promensil
• Phytoestrogens
• Menopause

Advisor

• Buckholt, Michael Allan
• Rulfs, Jill

Year

• 2022

Date created

• 2022-04-27

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright