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. 2015 Dec 17;20(12):22578–22620. doi: 10.3390/molecules201219864

Table 3.

Summary of in vivo experiments: breast cancer and polyphenols.

Author, Year Animals Dose and Duration of Administration Result
Genistein
Murrill W.B. et al., 1996 [216] Pre-pubertal Sprague-Dawley rats with DMBA induced carcinoma 500 μg/g body weight in P16, P18, P20 Reduction in carcinoma incidence
Jin Z. et al., 2002 [217] Pre-pubertal rats with DMBA induced carcinoma 500 mg/kg body weight in P7, P20 Reduction in tumor multiplicity by 60%
Cabanes A. et al., 2004 [221] Pre-pubertal female rats with DMBA induced carcinoma 50 µg (injection) daily from P7 to P20 Reduction in the size of the mammary epithelial area, reduction in number of TEB, increased density of lobulo-alveolar structures (increased differentiation), up-regulation of breast cancer tumor suppressor gene 1 (BRCA1) mRNA
Ju Y.H. et al., 2001 [218] Ovariectomized athymic mice with MCF-7 xenografts 125, 1000 μg/g body weight in the diet for 22 weeks Tumor size was increased in dose-dependent manner; cell proliferation was enhanced at concentration >250 μg/g; increased in pS2, an estrogen responsive gene at concentration >500 μg/g
Ju Y.H. et al., 2002 [219] Ovariectomized athymic BALB/c (nude) mice with MCF-7 xenografts 1000 ppm (1000 μg/g body weight) Genistein canceled the inhibitory effect of tamoxifen, decreased estradiol level in plasma, increased expression estradiol regulated genes (pS2, progesterone, cyclin D1)
Jin Z. et al., 2002 [217] Transgenic mice for MMTV-neu gene 250 mg/kg for 7 weeks Mammary tumor latency delayed compared to controls; no reduction in in the number or tumor size
Kijkuokool P. et al., 2006 [220] Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to NMU 1 mg/kg body weight daily subcutaneous injection for 20 weeks Increased tumor cross-sectional area, increased tumor multiplicity, but not tumor incidence
Daidzein
Constantinou A.I. et al., 2001 [222] Female Sprague-Dawley rats with DMBA breast carcinoma induction 200 mg/kg diet Tumor incidence and survival similar to control groups; reduction in tumor multiplicity by 32%; increased median tumor latency
Jin Z. et al., 2002 [217] Transgenic mice for MMTV-neu gene 250 mg/kg for 7 weeks Mammary tumor latency delayed compared to controls; no reduction in in the number or tumor size
Lamartiniere C.A. et al., 2002 [223] Virgin female rats 250 and 1000 mg/kg in the diet, 2 weeks prior to breeding till 50 day postpartum Moderate reduction in ovarian and uterine weights and mammary gland size; reduced body weight; reduction in circulating progesterone
Ju Y.H. et al., 2006 [224] Ovariectomized athymic mice with MCF-7 human xenografts 125 to 1000 ppm (125 to 1000 μg/g body weight) No statistical significant reduction in tumor size and proliferation
Resveratrol
Banerjee S. et al., 2002 [225] Female Sprague-Dawley rats with DMBA breast carcinoma induction 10 ppm Reduction in the incidence (by 45%) and multiplicity (by 55%) of the tumors; increased latency period; suppressed COX-2, MMP-9, NF-kB; no effect on body weight or tumor volume
Whitsett T. et al., 2006 [226] Female Sprague-Dawley rats with DMBA breast carcinoma induction 1 g/kg in the diet Suppression of mammary carcionogenesis: less number of tumors per rat, longer tumor latency; reduced proliferation; increased apoptosis in epithelial cells of TEB; reduced toxicity: no alterations in body weight
Singh B. et al., 2014 [129] August Copenhagen Irish rats (rodent model of breast carcionogenesis) 50 mg subcutaneous pellet per month, 8 months Decreased tumor incidence and increases latency in mammary tumors induced by estradiol; upregulated NRF2, a regulator of the anti-oxidant response; induced apoptosis (increased p53 and PARP cleavage) in mammary tissue
EGCG
Whitsett T. et al., 2006 [226] Female Sprague Dawley rats with DMBA and NMU mammary cancer induction 0.065% in the drinking water Not efficient in reduction of breast cancer incidence at these doses
Quercetin
Verma A.K. et al., 1998 [227] Female Sprague Dawley rats with DMBA and NMU mammary cancer induction 5% in the diet Reduction in the number of tumors; decreased tumor multiplicity; no detectable signs of toxicity (similar body weight in treated and control rats)
Singh B. et al., 2010 [228] Female August Copenhagen Irish (ACI) rats 2.5 g/kg in diet, 8 months No induction of tumors in ACI rats; did not protect against estrogen-induced tumors; did not confer protection against breast cancer and may worsen breast cancer status regularly exposed to estradiol
Curcumin
Masuelli L. et al., 2013 [121] BALB-neuT transgenic mice for neu oncogene n.m. Increased tumor-free survival; reduction in tumor multiplicity; safe to be administrated: no modification in hematological and clinical chemistry parameters

Abbreviations: P, postnatal day; DMBA, 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)antracen; TEB, terminal end buds; BRCA1, breast cancer tumor suppressor gene 1; Nrf2, nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2; NMU, N-methyl-N-nitrosourea; ppm, parts per million; MMTV, mouse mammary tumor virus; n.m., not mentioned.