Abstract 3114: Soy isoflavones modulate global methylation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)
Authors: Rozek Laura , Virani Shama , Bellile Emily , Taylor Jeremy , Sartor Maureen , Virani Alisha , Rentschler Katie , Cote Claire , Worden Francis , Peterson Lisa , Chepeha Douglas , Prince Mark , McLean Scott , Yoo George , Saba Neil F. , Shin Dong M. , Kucuk Omer , Wolf Gregory T. 
Published: July 2016

Soy intake has been associated with improved survival in HNSCC and soy isoflavones have been suggested as potential chemopreventive agents with a favorable therapeutic index and safety profile. Multiple in vivo and in vitro anti-cancer effects have been postulated including modulation of gene methylation. To determine if high dose soy isoflavone treatment changes methylation of genes associated with cancer outcomes, we measured genomic and gene-specific methylation in tumor tissue collected as a part of a multi-institutional neoadjuvant soy isoflavone clinical trial in HNSCC patients undergoing definitive surgical management.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients participated in this clinical trial. Patients were scheduled to receive 2 weeks (range 7-39 days, median = 15.2) of soy isoflavone supplements (300 mg/day G-2535; DCP, NCI, NIH) orally prior to surgery. Levels of methylation of LINE-1 (global methylation), and 6 other candidate genes previously associated with HNSCC (p16, DCC, NDN, CD1a, CCNA1 and Gadd45α) were measured by pyrosequencing in biopsy, resection and whole blood specimens. Twelve patients were stage I/II, 27 were stage III/IV. Thirty one patients had cancer of the oral cavity, 4 had larynx and 4 had oropharynx cancer. Mean age of the patients was 60.1 (sd = 12.5). Changes in methylation were tested using paired t-tests and clinical associations explored using ANOVA.

Results: LINE-1 methylation increased significantly (mean increase 4.9%; range -34.8% to +20.9%) in tumor specimens after soy isoflavone (p&lt;0.005). Amount of change correlated positively with days of isoflavone taken (p = .009). Increases in LINE-1 methylation in tumor were greatest in patients with normal BMI (p&lt;0.03). Similar changes for LINE-1 were not seen in corresponding whole blood samples. No other significant changes in tumor or blood methylation levels were seen in the other candidate genes. Baseline tumor methylation and change in methylation were also studied with respect to nutrition (BMI), drinking, tumor site, tumor stage, nodal status and prior treatment. Baseline CD1a methylation was lowest in current smokers (p&lt;0.04) and increases in CD1a after soy intake were associated with increasing pack years (p&lt;0.02). CD1a methylation was also higher in patients with T1,2 tumors (p&lt;0.03). Pretreatment NDN methylation was lower (p&lt;.008) and LINE-1 higher (p&lt;0.0001) in oral cavity cancer compared to oropharynx or larynx cancers. Toxicity from soy isoflavones was negligible and patient compliance was excellent.

Conclusions: This is the first demonstration of significant increases in tissue-specific global methylation associated with soy isoflavone intake, indicating increased genomic stability. The association of hypomethylation of LINE-1 with genetic instability, carcinogenesis and poor treatment outcomes suggests that soy isoflavones should be studied further as a potential chemopreventive agent in HNSCC.

Citation Format: Laura Rozek, Shama Virani, Emily Bellile, Jeremy Taylor, Maureen Sartor, Alisha Virani, Katie Rentschler, Claire Cote, Francis Worden, Lisa Peterson, Douglas Chepeha, Mark Prince, Scott McLean, George Yoo, Neil F. Saba, Dong M. Shin, Omer Kucuk, Gregory T. Wolf. Soy isoflavones modulate global methylation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3114.