I had brachytherapy about three years ago for Gleason 7 (4/3). What I try to do is eat foods that are best for my health. In researching foods for prostate cancer, I came across lycopene, which is found in tomato products. Tomato paste is particularly high in lycopene. Here is part of a study on lycopene:
“8. Conclusion
As noted in the review, lycopene can exert its anti-cancer effects through various pathways, including activating and inducing apoptosis, prevents metastasis and progression of prostate cancer by blocking the gap junction molecules and inhibiting the colony formation by decreasing the motility, cell adhesion and migration manner, increasing the anti-oxidative and anti-proliferative effects, decreasing PSA serum level, reducing angiogenesis, and decreasing inflammatory cytokines. These findings suggest that Lycopene and its derivatives could potentially be used in prostate cancer therapy. Since the combined therapy of lycopene in the conjugated form, targeted form, and with adjuvant can show a better effect on preventing or treating prostate cancer disease, it is recommended to investigate and compare the effects of different dosage forms of lycopene on prostate cancer and other malignancies. It is also possible to study the effects of lycopene on the treatment of prostate cancer and malignant tumors by examining novel drug delivery systems, such as solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, nanomissiles, liquid crystals, etc.” sciencedirect.com/science/a...
None of my doctors have ever talked about diet and its potential effect on prostate cancer.
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I was only thinking of lycopene last night - except that it took a while to remember the word (lol). Back in 2004, there wasn't a great deal of anything on PubMed related to food. One paper stood out.
Edward Giovannucci was the author (1995) [1]:
"Using responses to a validated, semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire mailed to participants in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study in 1986, we assessed dietary intake for a 1-year period for a cohort of 47,894 eligible subjects initially free of diagnosed cancer. Follow-up questionnaires were sent to the entire cohort in 1988, 1990, and 1992."
"Of 46 vegetables and fruits or related products, four were significantly associated with lower prostate cancer risk; of the four--tomato sauce .., tomatoes .., and pizza (..., but not strawberries--were primary sources of lycopene. Combined intake of tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato juice, and pizza (which accounted for 82% of lycopene intake) was inversely associated with risk of prostate cancer (multivariate RR = 0.65 ...)"
I had to smile. With pizza, one is hardly likely to find confounding "healthy" lifestyle factors to account for the benefit. Surely it had to be true? Pizza & spaghetti sauce!
Giovannucci created the lycopene market 27 years ago.
Today, a PubMed search on <prostate lycopene> will get you 550 hits.
It must mean something? There are some in this group who think we should not be wasting our time on such rubbish. Not SoC. As long as the 5-year survivor rate for advanced PCa stands at 30%, I will disagree.
It was determined long ago that "cooked" was important. The "all-trans" form gets converted to the "cis" forms. And as with all carotenes, there must be fat in the gut for uptake.
Here is a full-text paper from March this year [2]:
Tomatoes, Lycopene, and Prostate Cancer: What Have We Learned from Experimental Models?
ABSTRACT
"Human epidemiology suggests a protective effect of tomatoes or tomato phytochemicals, such as lycopene, on prostate cancer risk. However, human epidemiology alone cannot reveal causal relations. Laboratory animal models of prostate cancer provide opportunities to investigate hypotheses regarding dietary components in precisely controlled, experimental systems, contributing to our understanding of diet and cancer risk relations. We review the published studies evaluating the impact of tomatoes and/or lycopene in preclinical models of prostate carcinogenesis and tumorigenesis. The feeding of tomatoes or tomato components demonstrates anti–prostate cancer activity in both transplantable xenograft models of tumorigenesis and models of chemically- and genetically-driven carcinogenesis. Feeding pure lycopene shows anticancer activity in most studies, although outcomes vary by model system, suggesting that the impact of pure lycopene can depend on dose, duration, and specific carcinogenic processes represented in different models. Nonetheless, studies with the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model of carcinogenesis typically demonstrate similar bioactivity to that of tomato feeding. In general, interventions that commence earlier in carcinogenesis and are sustained tend to be more efficacious. Accumulated data suggest that lycopene is one, but perhaps not the only, anticancer bioactive compound in tomatoes. Although it is clear that tomatoes and lycopene have anti–prostate cancer activity in rodent models, major knowledge gaps remain in understanding dose–response relations and molecular mechanisms of action. Published and future findings from rodent studies can provide guidance for translational scientists to design and execute informative human clinical trials of prostate cancer prevention or in support of therapy."
Discussion
"Do tomatoes or lycopene have anti–prostate cancer activity in rodent models? The published literature is largely affirmative, for both tomato products and lycopene. Such findings are supportive of the hypothesis evolving from epidemiological studies (1, 59). Of course we are concerned regarding the potential of reporting bias. Currently, experimental rodent studies reported are heterogeneous in design, lycopene or tomato component doses, reporting of biomarkers of internal exposure (blood and tissue concentrations of bioactive compounds), and examination of a variety of histopathological outcomes. Thus, meta-analyses and pooling projects, as typically done in the epidemiological and clinical literature, are not scientifically justified. Importantly, future studies should precisely report the lycopene dose provided, provide detailed analytic data on tomato components provided, assess internal lycopene (or other dietary component or metabolite) exposure in terms of plasma/serum and tissue concentrations, and carefully consider endpoints along the carcinogenesis cascade that can be related to human disease. The variation in impact by tomato products, intact lycopene, lycopene metabolites, or other tomato phytochemicals in various rodent models should be viewed as an opportunity to better understand relevant mechanisms of action. We are gaining greater appreciation that human prostate cancer, both from genomic analysis and clinical observation, is a very heterogeneous collection of disease subtypes. It is useful to conceptualize specific rodent models as potentially representing subtypes of human cancer and its evolution over time (30, 129). For example, findings can suggest that lycopene mitigates the cascade of genetic damage resulting from loss of TRP53 and RB functioning, both affected in TRAMP and Lady models (36, 57, 58). However, our recent findings suggest that tomato or lycopene has minimal impact on the emergence of castration-resistant cancer in the TRAMP model (56). The limited number of studies prevent any firm conclusions regarding a stronger impact on early carcinogenesis or a weaker impact on tumorigenesis, but bring to light the hypothesis that lycopene might have a greater impact when introduced early in carcinogenesis compared with pharmacological adjuvant therapy of advanced prostate cancer.
"In general, lycopene has emerged as a key component of tomato products that can impact carcinogenesis in rodent models. In some models lycopene provided anticancer activity similar to that of whole tomato components, but not in all systems. Most informative are studies that have compared both lycopene and whole tomato in the same experiment (33–36). Konijeti et al. (35) observed that lycopene feeding significantly reduced the tumor incidence in TRAMP mice, from 95% in control to 60% (P < 0.002) whereas lycopene-matched tomato paste did not decrease tumor incidence. Alternatively, Tan et al. (36) found that tomato and lycopene feeding were similarly effective in reducing cancer incidence in TRAMP mice. However, Boileau et al. (33) found that feeding tomato powder increased survival in the NMU-carcinogenesis rat model at 50 wk, whereas lycopene did not. Canene-Adams et al. (34) observed that 10% tomato powder diet slowed tumor growth to a greater degree than lycopene alone in the Dunning implantable tumor rat model. Each study provided different doses of lycopene and the studies modeled different disease outcomes (cancer incidence, survival, and/or tumor size), so it is not surprising that one cannot draw a global conclusion for the relative efficacy of lycopene compared with tomato feeding for all prostate cancer outcomes.
"The timing and duration of the tomato or lycopene dietary intervention during prostate carcinogenesis are associated with outcomes in several of the preclinical model studies, with early feeding initiation typically being more effective than later introduction (48, 57, 74, 81). Furthermore, the early introduction does lead to observable changes in gene expression and histology prior to the development of adenocarcinoma (39, 55). These findings warrant further study of tomato and lycopene in men at risk of prostate cancer or in very early stages of prostate carcinogenesis.
"That lycopene and tomato tend to be more effective in de novo carcinogenesis and with earlier introduction to the diet is consistent with the recent epidemiological findings suggesting that long-term lycopene intake in men was more predictive of cancer risk than lycopene intakes reported closer to the time of diagnosis (118). A similar finding has recently emerged associating tomato intake in adolescence and reduced later prostate cancer risk (130), as well as early carotenoid intake in adolescent women with a reduced risk of benign breast disease, a risk factor for breast cancer (131, 132). In contrast to the de novo carcinogenesis systems, we found 9 publications with transplantable tumorigenesis systems, with 7 demonstrating a significant inhibition of tumorigenesis when mice were fed a diet containing tomato or lycopene. Three of these 7 studies demonstrate a statistically significant impact of lycopene only when combined with other agents (34, 77, 79) (Table 4). Further along the cancer cascade, lycopene in combination with a therapeutic agent led to slower tumor growth than therapeutic agent alone (79), and was recently found to reduce damage of noncancer tissue from radiation therapy (133), suggesting a role for lycopene as an adjuvant to some standard therapies.
"Combining dietary components that have unique mechanisms of action but additive or synergistic impact on cancer is a principle that is supported by successes in cancer chemotherapy with combinations of agents with nonoverlapping toxicity. In some cases, these combinations have proven to be more effective than the single agents, as in the case of whole tomato powder being combined with broccoli powder (34), soy germ (66), or FruHis (40). Similarly, when lycopene was combined with docetaxel (79) or vitamin E (77), these compounds were more effective than either alone. However, in other models there was no benefit when lycopene was combined with vitamin E and/or selenium (76) or vitamin E (61). These observations have stimulated food scientists to develop novel food products combining these components for future human studies (19, 21).
"Overall, the tomato, lycopene, and prostate cancer prevention hypothesis is largely supported by experimental animal studies, suggesting a need for additional mechanistic testing in modern genetically engineered mouse models. With an ever-improving understanding of molecular genetics and associated biological implications in human prostate cancer, new genetically engineered mouse models are being developed. These models along with genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic tools should be leveraged to pinpoint the pathways through which lycopene and tomato components disrupt carcinogenesis. Such studies will help to inform variable selection for future epidemiological studies and tumor-based inclusion criteria for clinical trials of tomato or lycopene products."
Lycopene has failed to show any clinical benefit and has shown risk in randomized clinical trials, so it was abandoned.
"Meta‐analysis of two studies indicated no statistical difference in prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels between men randomised to receive lycopene and the comparison group." (2011)
"We observed no overall benefits from a 6-month lycopene supplementation, as the rate of HGPIN progression to PC in our population (9/32, 28%) was similar to rates reported in the literature. Baseline PSA levels also showed no significant changes after a lycopene-enriched diet." (2014)
"Administration of high doses of lycopene, GTCs, and selenium in men harboring HGPIN and/or ASAP was associated with a higher incidence of PCa at re-biopsy and expression of microRNAs implicated in PCa progression at molecular analysis. The use of these supplements should be avoided." (2015)
I still recall swallowing tomato paste by the tablespoon when I was first diagnosed in 2010 - I laugh at myself now. There are fads in supplements. But if you've had curative therapy, why are you bothering with such things?
"But if you've had curative therapy, why are you bothering with such things?"
Here's one reason: Those who are cured can develop their own diet and supplement program and start bragging about how it cured their cancer, then tell the rest of us what to do!
Most Western med docs don’t know much about diet! My Nat doc says that it’s almost impossible to get enough lycopene from food alone . We eat lots of tomatoes too. However , just two pills a day can cover it! Simple . I’ve taken it for over seven years .
Agree most Docs do not know much about diet - just started on lycopene - have a post workout out drink in am - put 6 oz of tomato paste in the drink along with my protein powder ++. Drinking it now - tastes alright.
I am a walking example of a PC survivor who went the lycopene route since metastasis, ten years ago. It's a long story. Just read my bio and discussions by clicking on my name.
I apply heat to tumors when they hurt, that is, when they grow and cause pain. Over the years, I have killed many (20?) tumors with heat, most were lymph nodes, a few were skull mets, others I just assumed from scans, in testicles and pancreas...suspected by me but not verified by radiology reports). I do have a couple of tumors that are still alive, one deep in my spine between shoulder blades, and one on a rib. I use heat in a few ways. I take a 2.5 lb barbell weight and put in a saucepan on gas range with 1" water, bring to near boiling, then take it out with a fork. I wrap with a kitchen towel and place it over or under the suspected tumor for an extended period of time, removing it when it feels too uncomfortably hot. Usually, the tumor pain subsides right away, within minutes. I also apply very hot water in the shower for a short period, being careful not to scald myself. I have used a heating pad, under ny tumor, sometimes falling asleep, always using a cloth buffer. And I have a portable sauna which I use weekly, with setting at 130F for 25 minutes. Of those, I condider the barbell weight method the most effective.
Magnetcs
I bought a pack of refrigerator magnets. I suspend them from a string in a doorway to assess North/South faces. The N face points Southerly, and vice-versa. I tape the magnet to my skin above a tumor that has growth pains, with (very important) South face of magnet on the skin. I use waterproof tape which holds it for at least two days. The tumor pain disappears after two days. However, if the tumor is larger than the magnet it can grow beyond or outside the magnet. Although this method has worked, (killed tumors) I have abandoned the method, because it multiplied tumors and once, I used North against skin and it worsened a tumor.
Lycopenes
I drink 1/4 cup of V8 juice every morning with a bit of soybean oil or lately with a few potato chips for oil. I also use a lot of catsup in my meals, or barbecue sauce, on sandwiches or salads or on chicken sausage or fried wings, mixing with mayo for thousand-island dressing or just bbq sauce on meat or on fried potatoes. I also add a 20 mg pill of lycopene powder to fried foods. I try to maintain a relatively constant intake to keep blood lycopene level up. I conume roughly 50 mg of lycopene per day.
edit 8/5/22 I also eat spaghetti with tomato-based pasta sauce, shrimp with tomato-based shrimp sauce, tacos with a lot of tomato-based taco sauce, and pizza with tomato-based marinara sauce.
P.S.
I have been on/off Lupron , since 2012, now on, for past two years, quarterly injections. It has caused osteoporosis, so I also take Prolia injections semiannually. My PSA has been <0.1 past two years.
There are a lot of variables, and everyone should decide for themselves. I judge by my own experiences and results. Heres another article for you.lifeextension.com/magazine/...
Excellent article, thanks for posting. I drink some form of tomato juice every morning and tend to believe in the science of signaling pathways, rather than blind devotion to RCT dietary trials, even if the benefits are marginal.
I've used tomato paste in my fasting broth along with veggies esp from Cruciferous family. Also add ginger, and garlic. I've done 18 hr IF(Intermittent Fasting) since the Dx in 01/2015. Also would do two day fasts before chemos, sipping the tomato based broth. I actually like the taste of tomatoes. Who knows if it had any effects on the PCa, but I'm still here 7 1/2 yrs later
I’m curious as to all these negative results to lycopene. Was the lycopene tested from concentrated forms processed from fruits and vegetables or were the studies conducted by eating cooked tomatoes.
Tomatoes have lycopene. But a garden tomato is 95% water so the lycopene is highly diluted. Better source is canned tomato sauce, purée, or paste where the tomato solids are more concentrated. Lycopene is not damaged by the heat that is used to process the tomatoes. However, lycopene is oil soluble not water soluble. Therefore, you must add oil (EVOO) to the tomatoes or the lycopene will pass through your digestive system unabsorbed.
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