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Beneficial effect of whey protein on dimethylbenz[a]anthracene‐induced breast cancer in female rats
Author(s) -
Roy Somdutta Sinha,
Mukherjee Shyamali,
Das Salil K
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a247-a
Subject(s) - 7,12 dimethylbenz[a]anthracene , breast cancer , chemistry , anthracene , whey protein , food science , medicine , endocrinology , dmba , cancer , carcinogenesis , organic chemistry
Whey protein offers a beneficial effect on breast cancer development. We have recently shown that soy protein offers a beneficial effect on breast cancer development by down‐regulating the expression of a tumor promoting gene, peripheral benzodiazapine receptor (PBR). In this study, we investigated whether the breast cancer suppressing effect of whey protein is also mediated via PBRs. Breast cancer was developed by gavage administration of single dose of DMBA in female rats, maintained on AIN‐76A diet with either 20% casein or α‐lactalbumin (a whey protein). The whey group not only showed a delay in tumor appearance but also had a reduced number of tumors as compared to the casein group. After approximately 120 days of DMBA administration, the animals were sacrificed. Casein group had a mixture of grade I, grade II and grade III tumors whereas the whey group had mostly grade I tumor. PBR binding was significantly higher in the tumors (15–30 pmol/mg) than that in the normal breast (10 pmol/mg). However, tumor of whey group had significantly lower density (15 pmol/mg) of PBR than that of the casein group (30 pmol/mg). PBR density was also significantly higher in nuclei of tumors in both casein (3‐fold) and whey (1.5‐fold) groups. Furthermore, nuclear cholesterol uptake was significantly higher (2.4‐fold) in tumors of casein group than that in whey group. (Supported by US Army Grant DAMD17‐03‐1‐0352).