Lycopene and prostate cancer

Abstract

Despite being one of the most common malignancies, the prevenatble measures for prostate cancer remain poorly defined. Dietary intake of tomatoes and tomato products containing lycopene have been shown in cell culture, animal, epidemiologic and case–control studies to be inversely associated with the risk of prostate cancer. Its unique structural and biologic properties enable lycopene to prevent free-radical damage to cells caused by reactive oxygen species, thus acting as a potent antioxidant. Although some studies have provided contradictory results, these should not be considered incongruous to the many larger studies which have shown reliable results in favor of prostate cancer. Further research involving large randomized case–control trials would confirm the potential anticancer effect of this molecule, which might provide new dimensions not only to the prevention but also the treatment of prostate cancer.