ABSTRACT
Prostate cancer is a major health problem for men in Western society. Since the development of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening, the number of prostate cancers detected at an early developmental stage is increasing rapidly. In these patients, local treatment with curative intent is feasible. However, screening studies indicate that approximately 30% of these men are overdiagnosed, meaning that their cancer would never have caused any symptoms during their life time. In order to minimize unnecessary treatment for such patients, active surveillance is an alternative approach. Chemoprevention may be a valuable treatment option in addition to active surveillance, as dietary factors have been shown to delay prostate cancer progression and possibly increase longevity. Lycopene is one of a group of substances that are currently being tested for their potential as a nutritional source of chemopreventive agent in prostate cancer. In vitro experimental studies have shown growth inhibiting effects of lycopene on prostate cancer cells. Recent preclinical studies in mice revealed that lycopene supplementation reduces growth of human prostate cancer xenografts. Short-term intervention studies in patients receiving lycopene supplementation prior to surgical intervention have already indicated an effect on circulating PSA levels. In addition, tertiary chemoprevention studies in progressive locally treated prostate cancer patients have been 330conducted showing reduced plasma PSA doubling times after the use of dietary supplements that also contained lycopene. Further studies are warranted to establish the role of lycopene in primary and secondary prevention of prostate cancer.
