WSU researchers explain the benefits of soy in post-operative bone cancer treatment
Soybean is one of the most common legumes that comes with a plethora of uses and benefits. Numerous studies have explained the countless health benefits of soy, and researchers believe its consumption in adequate amounts helps reduce the risk of cancer, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and improved bone health. A team of researchers at Washington State University (WSU) expects to see remarkable outcomes of using the popular legume soybean in the post-operative treatment of bone cancer. The findings of the latest study were published in the journal Acta Biomaterialia.
Naboneeta Sarkar and Susmita Bose from the WSU’s School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering have demonstrated that soy-based chemical compounds released from a 3-D-printed bone-like scaffold could significantly decrease the number of bone cancer cells. They further explained that these compounds could help create healthy cells and reduce severe inflammation. The latest work was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Professor Susmita Bose detailed on the latest development, “There is not much research in this area of natural medicinal compounds in biomedical devices. Using these natural medicines, one can make a difference to human health with very minimal or no side effects, although a critical issue remains composition control. These results advance our understanding in providing therapeutic approaches in using synthetic bone grafts as a drug delivery vehicle.”
Soy contains isoflavones, which are plant-derived estrogens aiding in the inhibition of cancer cell growth for several cancer types. These soybean compounds have also proven to be effective in improving bone health and could potentially prevent osteoporosis. Osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer type, mostly affects children and young adults. It involves pre- and post-operative chemotherapy, along with surgery to remove the tumor. Patients usually experience severe inflammation during bone reconstruction, and in some cases, high doses of chemotherapy lead to harmful side effects. Thus, researchers are working on the development of gentler treatment options using products like soybean.
