Fifty-four patients with metastatic prostate cancer (M1b or D2) were randomly assigned to receive orchiectomy alone (control) or orchiectomy plus lycopene, 2 mg twice a day. After 6 months the mean PSA level was nonsignificantly lower in the lycopene group than in the control group (9.1 vs. 26.4 ng/ml); after 2 years the difference between groups was significant (3.0 vs. 9.0 ng/ml; p < 0.001). Eleven patients in control group (40%) and 21 in the lycopene group (78%) had a complete PSA response (p < 0.05). Bone scans showed a complete response in 4 patients in the control group (15%), compared with 8 (30%) in the lycopene group (p < 0.02). The mortality rate was 22% in the control group and 13% in the lycopene group (p < 0.001).

Comment: These results indicate that adding lycopene to orchiectomy produced a more favorable outcome than did orchiectomy alone. Other preliminary studies have suggested that lycopene supplementation (in the form of a tomato extract) can either slow the growth, or induce regression, of prostate cancer in humans (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2001;10:861-868). In addition, epidemiological studies have shown that habitual consumption of large amounts of tomato sauce, a major dietary source of lycopene, is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. The absorption of lycopene from tomato sauce is greater than that from whole tomatoes or tomato juice. Aside from tomatoes, dietary sources of lycopene include watermelon, apricots, and pink grapefruit. While experimental evidence points to lycopene as an important active ingredient in tomatoes, it is possible that other constituents of tomatoes are also active; consequently, food sources of lycopene would be preferable to supplements.

Ansari MS, Gupta NP. A comparison of lycopene and orchidectomy vs orchidectomy alone in the management of advanced prostate cancer. BJU Int 2003;92:375-378.