Apoptosis index, increase

In human studies, flaxseed consumption has had positive impacts on carcinogenesis and parallel observations from animal studies. A doubleblind, placebo-controlled, prospective clinical trial involving 39 women, newly diagnosed with breast tumors, was completed to evaluate the effect of flaxseed consumption on tumor growth (Thompson et al., 2000). Subjects given flaxseed (25 g/day) diets had reduced tumor cell proliferation and c-erB-2 expression, and an increased apoptosis index compared with women who ate whole-wheat muffins. 

Thompson et al. (2005) reported that tumor cell proliferation and c-erbB2 expression decreased by 34% and 71%, respectively, whereas cell apoptosis increased (31%) in menopausal women fed a diet containing 25 g of flaxseed. Changes in c-erbB2 score and apoptosis index were correlated with total flaxseed intake whereas cell proliferation, as measured by Ki-67 labeling index, was not. A main conclusion from these studies was that the lignans and, to a lesser extent, ALA were responsible for the anticarcinogenic activity. 

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