These tocotrienols facilitate the translocation of ERβ into the nucleus to activate estrogen-responsive genes, such as Macrophage Inhibitory Cytokine-1 (MIC-1), Early Growth Response-1 (EGR-1), and Cathepsin D, in breast cancer cells expressing ERβ (e.g., MD Anderson-Metastatic Breast-231—MDA-MB-231) and those expressing both ER isoforms (e.g., Michigan Cancer Foundation-7—MCF-7). The gene discussed is ESR2; the disease is breast carcinoma.