Antimitotic peptide characterized from soybean: role in protection from cancer?

Cell proliferation, or mitosis, is believed to play a central role in the multistep process of carcinogenesis. The recent identification, cloning, and characterization of a potent antimitotic peptide from soybeans is, therefore, of interest in view of epidemiologic associations between intake of soy products and reduced cancer risk. Several questions must be resolved, however, before the biochemistry and epidemiology can be linked.