Lycopene in Association with α-Tocopherol Inhibits at Physiological Concentrations Proliferation of Prostate Carcinoma Cells

Lycopene inhibits DNA synthesis in primary prostate epithelial cells in vitro and its administration is associated with a reduced prostate-specific antigen velocity in a phase II clinical study

“…[19][20][21] Our results employing LnCaP cells confirm such findings and demonstrate the dose-dependent inhibitory effects of lycopene on DNA synthesis. However, LnCaP and other established CaP cell lines do not provide an accurate human model.…”

“…Indeed, results from animal model experiments have disappointingly shown little effect of dietary lycopene supplementation, although positive effects have been described from the use of whole-tomato extract supplementation. 23 While such observations are suggestive of alternative 'anti-cancer' agents in tomatoes, it lends weight to experimental results of Pastori et al, 19 who demonstrated a significant synergistic effect between lycopene and vitamin E in inhibiting PC3 cell proliferation in culture; a similar effect was described more recently in LnCaP cells. 24 Tomatoes, and indeed the oleoresin tablets used in this phase II clinical study, contain a number of additional antioxidants, and although lycopene is by far the most abundant, a role for combination effects cannot be excluded.…”

Lycopene and prostate cancer

“…58,59 In prostate cancer, in particular, a study has demonstrated inhibition of cell line proliferation in the presence of physiological concentrations of lycopene in combination with alpha-tocopherol. 60 Interestingly, a large study has linked lower levels of IGF1 (high levels of which are associated with the incidence of prostate cancer 61 ) with increased tomato intake in the diet. 62 …”

New Developments in Lycopene Analysis by Spectroscopic and Chromatographic Techniques, Accompanied With Mathematical Modelling

“…Other studies confirm the reduced risk of prostate cancer due to lycopene supplementation [116]. Some in vitro studies reveal the antiproliferative effect on prostate cancer cell lines with the combination of lycopene and a-tocopherol while this effect was not seen with lycopene alone [117]. In this line, a study reported by Zhang et al [118] revealed that lycopene as an antioxidant factor in the diet could significantly inhibit DNA synthesis following a dose-dependent pattern, as it could inhibit the activity and expression of the androgen receptor gene.…”