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Dietary tomato and lycopene impact androgen signaling- and carcinogenesis-related gene expression during early TRAMP

Lei Wan1, Hsueh-Li Tan1, Jennifer M Thomas-Ahner2

  • 1Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Interdisciplinary Nutrition Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.

Cancer Prevention Research (Philadelphia, Pa.)
|October 16, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Dietary tomato and lycopene intake may reduce prostate cancer risk by altering testosterone-regulated gene expression. These findings highlight potential mechanisms by which tomato consumption impacts prostate carcinogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Consumption of tomato products, rich in lycopene, is linked to decreased prostate cancer risk.
  • Prostate carcinogenesis is driven by testosterone and influenced by diet.
  • Understanding gene expression changes in early prostate cancer is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify gene expression patterns in early prostate cancer.
  • To investigate the impact of dietary tomato and lycopene on these patterns.
  • To explore the role of testosterone in diet-modulated gene expression.

Main Methods:

  • Wild-type (WT) and TRAMP mice were fed control, tomato, or lycopene diets.
  • Mice underwent sham surgery, castration, or castration with testosterone repletion.
  • Quantitative NanoString was used to measure 200 prostate cancer-related genes.

Main Results:

  • Testosterone status significantly altered gene expression, with castration reducing proliferation markers (e.g., Mki67).
  • Lycopene and tomato diets differentially affected genes in androgen metabolism and signaling pathways.
  • Tomato feeding reduced stem cell-related genes, while lycopene reduced neuroendocrine differentiation genes.

Conclusions:

  • A profile of testosterone-regulated genes in early prostate carcinogenesis was identified.
  • Dietary tomato and lycopene components may target these genes mechanistically.
  • Further research into androgen signaling, stem cells, and neuroendocrine pathways is warranted.

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