Indole carbinol (Indinol Forto) and benign breast diseases in the context of cancer prevention
Kareva E.N.
The use of indole carbinol in the treatment of benign breast diseases has shown potential benefits for preventing the development of neoplasia. The metabolism of indole carbinol begins in the stomach, where a number of biologically active compounds are formed as a result of acid-catalyzed reactions. These compounds include 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) and 5,11-dihydroindolo-[3,2-b]-carbazole (ICZ), which are oligomers. Indole carbinol and DIM, through their own aryl hydrocarbon receptors, regulate the expression of enzymes involved in liver metabolism and the excretion of various biologically active substances, including steroid hormones, medications, carcinogens, and toxins. Preclinical studies have shown that indole carbinol and DIM have indirect anti-estrogenic activity, which may help reduce the risk of hormone-dependent cancer. Indole carbinol and DIM can alter the profile of estradiol metabolites in the urine of women, reducing the number of proliferation-stimulating molecules. Experimental studies have demonstrated that indole carbinol is able to affect several signaling pathways that are inhibited in tumor cells, namely, those that control cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and angiogenesis. Thus, indole carbinol can selectively affect altered cells. DIM has lower bioavailability than indole carbinol. Indole carbinol, which is part of the Indinol Forto medication, is included in clinical guidelines for the treatment of benign breast disease.
Conclusion: The mechanisms of action of indole carbinol characterize Indinol Forto as a medication with a potential oncoprotective effect. This result is especially important in terms of preventing breast cancer in patients with cyclic mastalgia.
Conflicts of interest: The author declares lack of the possible conflicts of interest.
Funding: The study was conducted without sponsorship.
For citation: Kareva E.N. Indole carbinol (Indinol Forto) and benign breast diseases in the context of cancer prevention.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2025; (6): 164-170 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2025.162
Keywords
benign breast disease
risk of breast cancer
indole carbinol
Indinol Forto
mechanisms of action
prevention
treatment
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Received 19.06.2025
Accepted 25.06.2025
About the Authors
Elena N. Kareva, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Professor at the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Radiobiology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117513, Russia, Moscow, Ostrovityanov str., 1; Professor at the Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biodesign and Modeling of Living Systems, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia (Sechenov University), 119991, Russia, Moscow, Trubetskaya str., 8-2, kareva_e_n@staff.sechenov.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9441-3468Similar Articles
