Nutrients in the Chemoprevention of Prostate Cancer: Current and Future Prospects

BACKGROUND: External factors such as diet and lifestyle may be important in the etiology of invasive prostate cancer. Specific features of prostate cancer, including high prevalence, long latency, and significant mortality and morbidity, provide the opportunities for chemoprevention. METHODS: The authors examine the experimental and epidemiological data demonstrating the chemopreventive activity, safety, and toxicity of chronic administration of these specific nutrients as chemopreventive agents in prostate cancer. RESULTS: Several nutrients have been identified as agents that inhibit mutagenesis and hyperproliferation or induce apoptosis or differentiation, which are critical characteristics for chemoprevention. Successful chemopreventive strategies require well-characterized agents, suitable cohorts, and reliable intermediate biomarkers of cancer for evaluating efficacy. Phytoestrogens/isoflavones, vitamins D and E, selenium, and lycopene have been identified as promising nutrients in the role of chemoprevention of prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical studies to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of these agents as future prospects in cancer chemoprevention, both individually and in combination, are warranted.