A Dietary Tomato Supplement Prevents Prostate Cancer in TRAMP Mice

Abstract

Transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) is a model for progressive prostate cancer that mirrors the stages of the human form. In this study, the effects of a diet enriched with processed whole tomatoes on survival, tumorigenesis, and progression of prostate cancer, and the antioxidant and inflammatory status of TRAMP mice were investigated. Tomato diet significantly increased overall survival (P < 0.01), delayed progression from prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia to adenocarcinoma, and decreased the incidence of poorly differentiated carcinoma. Biochemical data disclosed an increase in serum antioxidant activity and a reduction of serum inflammation/angiogenesis biomarkers of particular importance in prostate carcinogenesis. Cancer Prev Res; 3(10); 1284-91. ©2010 AACR.

Low-lycopene containing tomato powder diet does not protect against prostate cancer in TRAMP mice

“…Again, the TP diet reduced tumor weight and volume to a greater extent when compared with diets supplemented with lycopene beadlets [12]. In 2 studies using the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model, a 10% TP diet resulted in a 39% reduction in PCa incidence [13] and increased overall survival compared with the control diets [14]. Collectively, these studies suggest that whole tomatoes may be more effective than lycopene alone in reducing prostate carcinogenesis.…”

“…Other studies began dietary interventions prior to initiation of carcinogenesis or puberty [11][12][13][14]6]. The initiation of a 10% TP diet in TRAMP mice after puberty when prostate-specific pathological changes occur has not been previously investigated.…”

Current Status and Future Prospects of Nutraceuticals in Prostate Cancer

“…There was no difference in prostate weights between the groups (Konijeti R et al 2010). In another study, diet enriched with processed whole tomatoes significantly increased overall survival (P < 0.01), delayed progression from prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia to adenocarcinoma, and decreased the incidence of poorly differentiated carcinoma (Pannellini T et al 2010). These studies are highly encouraging and strongly support further mechanistic studies with lycopene in preclinical models of prostate cancer.…”

Plant Science and Human Nutrition: Challenges in Assessing Health-Promoting Properties of Phytochemicals

“…Although no histological differences were seen compared with mice on control diet lacking sulforaphane, this could potentially be due to the aggressive nature of disease progression in this model as discussed above. In TRAMP mice, another well-documented model of prostate disease in which expression of the oncogene SV40 is driven by a prostate-specific promoter, both tomato (Pannellini et al, 2010) and lycopene (Konijeti et al, 2010), a putative bioactive ingredient of tomatoes, were shown to reduce significantly the incidence of prostate cancer, although certain tomato preparations were shown to have no effect (Konijeti et al, 2010). …”