ALDH1 Protein as a Potential Marker of Rat Breast Cancer Stem Cells in a Preventive Model of Soybean Extract Administration

Keanvito Abyaz Brahma; Kusmardi Kusmardi; Andi Muh. Maulana

doi:10.31557/APJCB.2026.11.4.997

Authors

Keanvito Abyaz Brahma Undergraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Kusmardi Kusmardi Department of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia. Human Cancer Research Center, Indonesia Medical Education and Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia. Drug Development Research Center, Indonesia Medical Education and Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia. Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia. Pathobiology Research Group, Universitas Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4300-723X
Andi Muh. Maulana Faculty of Medicine, Purwokerto Muhammadiyah University, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2112-3777

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCB.2026.11.4.997

Keywords:

ALDH1, Breast Cancer, DMBA, Isoflavones, Soybean Extract

Abstract

Objective: Breast Cancer Stem Cells (BCSCs) are associated with rapid progression, drug resistance, and recurrence, which are identified by aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) expression. Soy isoflavones have been reported to interfere with stemness-related pathways. This study examined the effect of soybean extract on ALDH1 expression in a DMBA induced rat model of breast cancer.

Materials and Methods: Thirty female rats were divided into five groups: normal control (NoC), negative control with DMBA induction (NeC), and treatment groups receiving soybean extract at 250 mg/kg BW (SE-D250), 500 mg/kg BW (SE-D500), or 1000 mg/kg BW (SE-D1000). Breast tissues were evaluated for ALDH1 expression by immunohistochemistry and quantified using the H-index method, which uses the “ImageJ” and “IHC Profiler” software.

Results: NeC (69.1%) exhibited significantly higher ALDH1 expression than NoC (26.7%), confirming CSC enrichment. Soybean extract intervention significantly reduced ALDH1 levels across all treatment groups compared with the NeC group. No significant difference was found between SE-D250 (49.9%) and SE-D500 (53.3%) (p = 0.873). SE-D1000 produced the most significant reduction (37.9%), though ALDH1 levels remained significantly higher than in NoC.

Conclusion: Soybean extract significantly reduces ALDH1 expression in BCSC, with the most notable effect at a 1000 mg/kg BW dose. No dose-dependent pattern was observed due to genistein’s biphasic effect as the primary flavonoid. Additionally, soybean extract administration cannot restore ALDH1 expression in cancer cells to a normal level.