Issues

Epidemiologically, an inverse correlation has been reported between the intake of soy foods and esophageal cancer, which is the 8th most common cancer worldwide and the 6th most common cause of cancer death with an estimated 400,000 deaths or 4.9% of total cancer deaths. Pin1 is a critical therapeutic and preventive target in esophageal cancer because of its positive regulation of β-catenin and cyclin D1. Indeed, up-regulation of Pin1 levels has been observed clinically and is closely correlated with poor survival of esophageal cancer patients. The cover image reveals the direct binding of 6,7,4′-trihydroxyisoflavone, a major metabolite of daidzein, at both the WW and PPIase domains of Pin1. See article by Lim et al. (beginning on page 308) for more information about this natural inhibitor of the Pin1 protein for suppressing esophageal cancer development.