Related Experiment Videos
Tomatoes, lycopene, and prostate cancer: progress and promise
Craig W Hadley1, Elizabeth C Miller, Steven J Schwartz
1Department of Food Science and Technology, Division of Hematology and Oncology, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, 320 W. 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Experimental Biology and Medicine (Maywood, N.J.)
|November 9, 2002
Summary
Tomato products, rich in lycopene, are linked to reduced prostate cancer risk. Research is exploring whether lycopene alone or the complex mix of tomato compounds offers the most benefit for cancer prevention.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nutritional Science
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Prostate cancer is a significant public health concern, particularly in aging, affluent populations.
- Epidemiological studies suggest a correlation between tomato product consumption and decreased prostate cancer risk.
- The search for etiologic factors and chemopreventive strategies for prostate cancer is ongoing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of lycopene, a key tomato carotenoid, in prostate cancer chemoprevention.
- To compare the potential anti-cancer benefits of pure lycopene versus whole tomato products.
- To understand the mechanisms of lycopene's action in reducing cancer risk.
Main Methods:
- Laboratory studies assessing pure lycopene's chemopreventive potential.
- Clinical trials evaluating lycopene's efficacy against prostate and other cancers.
- Epidemiological research examining the effects of tomato product consumption.
- Nutritional science investigations into the synergistic effects of tomato phytochemicals.
Main Results:
- Lycopene is proposed as a key component in tomato products responsible for lowering prostate cancer risk.
- Ongoing research aims to elucidate lycopene's absorption, distribution, metabolism, and antioxidant functions.
- An alternative approach focuses on the combined benefits of multiple phytochemicals in tomato products.
Conclusions:
- Further research is critical to understand lycopene's precise role and optimal use in cancer prevention.
- Both isolated lycopene and complex tomato matrices warrant continued investigation for their anti-cancer properties.
- Future studies will compare these approaches to inform public health strategies for reducing prostate cancer incidence.