| Rank |
Pathway / Axis |
Cancer Cells |
Normal Cells |
TSF |
Primary Effect |
Notes / Interpretation |
| 1 |
Estrogen receptor modulation (ERβ & ERα) |
ER signaling modulation (context-dependent; tissue specific) |
Selective ER modulation (phytoestrogenic activity) |
P, R, G |
Hormone pathway modulation |
Genistein binds ERs (often higher affinity for ERβ). Effects depend on tumor ER status, dose, and hormonal environment. |
| 2 |
Tyrosine kinase inhibition (e.g., EGFR-related signaling) |
Growth signaling ↓ (reported) |
↔ |
P, R |
Mitogenic signaling suppression |
Historically described as a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor; relevance varies by cell type and exposure level. |
| 3 |
PI3K → AKT → mTOR axis |
PI3K/AKT signaling ↓ (reported; model-dependent) |
↔ |
R, G |
Survival/growth modulation |
Frequently reported in preclinical systems; strength of effect varies with concentration and ER context. |
| 4 |
NF-κB inflammatory transcription |
NF-κB activity ↓ (reported) |
Inflammatory tone ↓ |
R, G |
Anti-inflammatory transcription |
Observed across inflammatory and cancer models; contributes to reduced cytokine and pro-survival gene expression. |
| 5 |
Cell-cycle checkpoints (G2/M commonly reported) |
Cell-cycle arrest ↑ (often G2/M) |
↔ |
G |
Cytostasis |
Genistein commonly induces cell-cycle arrest, particularly at higher in-vitro concentrations. |
| 6 |
Intrinsic apoptosis (mitochondrial/caspase-linked) |
Apoptosis ↑ (reported; dose-dependent) |
↔ (generally less activation) |
G |
Cell death execution |
Frequently downstream of survival signaling suppression; magnitude varies by exposure level. |
| 7 |
Angiogenesis signaling (VEGF) |
VEGF ↓ (reported) |
↔ |
G |
Anti-angiogenic support |
Reduction in angiogenic signaling is described in some tumor models; typically a later phenotype effect. |
| 8 |
Epigenetic modulation (DNMT / histone effects) |
DNA methylation changes (reported) |
↔ |
G |
Epigenetic reprogramming |
Genistein has been reported to influence DNMT activity and gene expression patterns in preclinical studies. |
| 9 |
Redox modulation (ROS) |
ROS direction variable (antioxidant at low dose; pro-oxidant reported at high dose) |
Antioxidant tone ↑ (common in non-tumor models) |
P, R, G |
Redox modulation (context-dependent) |
Redox effects are dose- and model-dependent; not a reliable primary cytotoxic mechanism. |
| 10 |
Bioavailability / metabolism constraint |
Systemic levels largely conjugated metabolites |
— |
— |
Translation constraint |
After oral intake, genistein circulates mainly as glucuronide/sulfate conjugates; free plasma levels are typically lower than many in-vitro IC50 values. |