Lycopene and Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Despite being one of the most common malignancies, the preventable measures for prostate cancer remain poorly defined. Dietary intake of tomatoes and tomato products containing lycopene have been shown in cell culture, animal, epidemiologic and case-control studies to be inversely associated with the risk of prostate cancer. Its unique structural and biologic properties enable lycopene to prevent free-radical damage to cells caused by reactive oxygen species, thus acting as a potent antioxidant. Although some studies have provided contradictory results, these should not be considered incongruous to the many larger studies which have shown reliable results in favor of prostate cancer. Further research involving large randomized case-control trials would confirm the potential anticancer effect of this molecule, which might provide new dimensions not only to the prevention but also the treatment of prostate cancer.

Zyflamend®-mediated inhibition of human prostate cancer PC3 cell proliferation: Effects on 12-LOX and Rb protein phosphorylation

“…The reaction was terminated by addition of aliquots of 40 ml of 1 N citric acid and 5 ml of 10% butylated hydroxytoluene. An aliquot of 10 ml of the deuterated relevant eicosanoids (i.e., PGE 2 The effect of Zyflamend on the activity of cloned COX-1, COX-2 and 5-LOX enzymes was determined. Zyflamend (0.125 to 1 ml/ml) was incubated with COX-1 or COX-2 (5 Units) in 0.1 M Tris-HCl buffer, pH 8.0, containing 5 mM EDTA, 2 mM phenol, and 1 mM hematin or was incubated with human 5-LOX enzyme (10 U) for 5 minutes in buffer containing 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 2 mM CaCl 2 , and 1 mM ATP, followed by addition of 2.5 ml AA (10 mM).…”

Treatment of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome Category IIIA with <i>Serenoa repens</i> plus Selenium and Lycopene (Profluss®) versus <i>S. repens</i> Alone: An Italian Randomized Multicenter-Controlled Study

“…Lycopene, a red orange carotenoid that is found primarily in tomatoes, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects via an antioxidative function [19] and has been shown to have a positive effect in the treatment of chronic diseases [20,21] . Lycopene, through its multiple modes of action, seems to improve prostate health [22] .…”

Synergistic effect between lycopene and ciprofloxacin on a chronic bacterial prostatitis rat model

“…Lycopene, an extract of tomatoes, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects via an antioxidative function and has been shown to have a preventive effect in reducing the incidence of chronic diseases such as prostate cancer, breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases [5][6][7]. Recently, the multiple modes of action of lycopene in prostate cancer risk reduction were discussed in a review which stressed that inhibition of inflammation, local androgen signalling, multiple levels of antioxidant defence and reduction of prostate epithelial cell proliferation, all contributed to improving prostate health [8].…”