Address for correspondence: Dr. Leonard A. Cohen, American Health Foundation, 1 Dana Road, Valhalla, New York 10595, USA. Voice: 914-789-7154; fax: 914-592-6317.
Lcohen{at}AHF.org
Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 963: 148-155 (2002).
Despite intense efforts, little is known about the etiology
of prostate cancer, and treatment of advanced forms of the disease
has had limited success. Nonetheless, epidemiologic studies
combined with animal model and
in vitro experiments indicate
that natural components of the diet, including n-3 PUFA, the
carotenoid lycopene, and the trace element selenium, may serve
as chemopreventive agents that suppress the growth and dissemination
of neoplastic prostate cells. Until further study, however,
soy isoflavones should be viewed with some caution, especially
as adjuvant's to chemotherapy, in patients with hormone-refractory
prostate cancer. Future studies, using different forms and doses
of selenium and tomato carotenoids, may shed new light on the
etiology and prevention of prostate cancer.
