Systematic investigation of lycopene effects in LNCaP cells by use of novel large‐scale proteomic analysis software

Abstract

Lycopene, the red pigment of tomatoes, is a carotenoid with potent antioxidant properties. Although lycopene might function as a prostate cancer chemoprevention agent, little is known about its effects at the cellular level. To define general changes induced by treatment of cells with lycopene, and to gain insights into the possible chemoprevention properties of lycopene, we investigated changes in protein expression after lycopene treatment in human LNCaP cells. The high throughput proteomics data were then visualized and analyzed by novel biological protein pathway modeling software. Differentially expressed proteins were identified, and the data were analyzed by protein pathway simulation software without need for specialized programming by importing pathway models from a number of sources or creating their own. One notable outcome was the identification of a group of upregulated proteins involved in detoxification of reactive oxygen species. This finding suggests that a possible mechanism of lycopene chemoprevention is the stimulation of detoxification enzymes associated with the antioxidant response element. Novel biological pathway modeling software enhances analysis of large proteomics data. When applied to the analysis of proteins differentially expressed in prostate cancer cells upon treatment with lycopene, the upregulation of detoxification enzymes was identified.

Investigation of the Potential Anticancer Effects of Lycopene in Tissue Engineered In vitro and In vivo Models

“…In addition to the above described data by Cramer et al [50], there are two more reports of a positive correlation between lycopene and the reduction of ovarian cancer. Jeong et al [51] reported a 90 % reduction of ovarian cancer risk related to lycopene consumption, assessed in a Korean hospital-based case-control study, which included 45 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer and 135 cancer-free controls.…”

“…Lycopene containing food products, but not lycopene supplements have been described to be responsible for the protective effects against ovarian cancer [50]. However, even though the FDA categorized the above described study from Cramer et al [50] to be of high methodologic quality, it was not sufficient for the FDA to award the predicated Qualified Health Claim related to tomato intake and reduced risk of ovarian cancer.…”

“…Lycopene containing food products, but not lycopene supplements have been described to be responsible for the protective effects against ovarian cancer [50]. However, even though the FDA categorized the above described study from Cramer et al [50] to be of high methodologic quality, it was not sufficient for the FDA to award the predicated Qualified Health Claim related to tomato intake and reduced risk of ovarian cancer. Because of high risk for bias related to the retrospective study design and absence of replication, the FDA decided that the reduction of ovarian cancer risk is unlikely related to intake of tomatoes and tomatobased products [49].…”

“…Additionally, tomato intake and its association with cancer risk reduction were reviewed, which revealed only a single usable study evaluating tomato consumption and its relation to ovarian cancer [50]. 563 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer and 523 control patients have been included in this study, reporting an inverse association for the risk of developing ovarian cancer and an increase in lycopene intake.…”

“…Investigation of the menopausal status and the histologic subtype of ovarian cancers revealed a stronger effect of lycopene on pre-menopausal women suffering from borderline serous tumors, rather than post-menopausal women with invasive serous and mucinous tumors [50]. Lycopene containing food products, but not lycopene supplements have been described to be responsible for the protective effects against ovarian cancer [50].…”