At the Annual Congress of the European Association for Cancer Research, held on June 16-19, 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal, Dr. Molander presented results related to the efficacy of classic therapeutic regimens combined with natural products on 3D bioprinted colorectal cells.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of all cancer-related deaths worldwide. The incidence of CRC is increasing by 1 to 2% annually and is rising dramatically among the younger population. The poor prognosis is partly due to the resistance to chemotherapy acquired by tumor cells.
Numerous studies demonstrate that the consumption of soy and soy products is beneficial to human health. The biological activity of soy products is due to the presence of isoflavones in soy. In the human intestinal tract, specific bacteria have the ability to metabolize soy isoflavones into a metabolite with anti-cancer properties.
The biological effects of soy isoflavones and their metabolites on various types of cancer, including CRC, have been studied intensively in recent years. 3D bioprinted tumor models resemble primary tumors morphologically and biochemically and serve as platforms for drug testing.
A number of studies in recent years have demonstrated that consumption of soy products reduces the risk of developing various diseases.
Team: Diana Molander, Tsvetomira Ivanova, Yordan Sbirkov, Victoria Sarafian