Anticancer Activities of Lycopene

Lycopene (molecular formula: C40H56) is a naturally occurring chemical that gives vegetables and fruits a red color. Tomatoes are the most concentrated food source of  lycopene, although papaya, apricots, watermelon, guava, and pink grapefruit are also important sources. 240 mL of tomato juice provides approximately 23 mg of lycopene. Research shows that lycopene can be absorbed more efficiently by the body after it has been processed into juice, sauce, paste, or ketchup. Eating lycopene-rich vegetables and fruits together with a small amount of oil or fat increases the amount of lycopene absorbed by the intestines.

Lycopene and Cancer Risk

Lycopene has been found to possess antioxidant and antiproliferative effects in animal and lab studies. Lycopene is the most common carotenoid in the human body and is one of the most strong carotenoid antioxidants. New researches show that a daily intake of 7-8 mg is enough to maintain sufficient levels of  lycopene to fight oxidative stress and prevent chronic diseases. “The shape of the lycopene molecule makes it very effective in being able to quench free radicals,” says Dr. Edward Giovannucci. “We don’t really understand it entirely yet, but lycopene may have specific properties that protect the cell in a way other antioxidants may not.”

Although the antioxidant activities of  lycopene are thought to be primarily responsible for its useful effects, evidence is accumulating to suggest other mechanisms such as modulation of  intercellular gap junction communication, hormonal and immune system and metabolic pathways may also be involved. Numerous studies (observational studies) correlate high intake of  lycopene-containing foods or high lycopene serum levels with reduced incidence of cancer. Findings is strongest forlycopene preventive effect against cancer of the prostate, stomach and lung. It may also help to preserve against cancer of  the breast, cervix, pancreas, esophagus, rectum and colon. Lycopene has been demonstrated to have other possible anti cancer activities particularly relating to modulation of intercellular communication and alterations in intracellular signalling pathways.

TomatoThere is some findings that getting lycopene from foods (6.5 mg/day or more for women and 12 mg/day or more for men) reduces lung cancer risk in nonsmoking men aged 40 to 75, and nonsmoking women aged 30 to 55. The University of  Illinois found that comparing woman with the highest levels of  lycopene and those with the lowest demonstrated that the highest levels were 5 times less likely to have cervical cancer. In a study performed by the “China Medical University Department of  Nutrition“, the cancer-combating lycopene has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells. It accomplishes this by suppressing an significant signaling pathway that enables cancer cells to grow and survive. Dr. Yoav Sharoni of  Ben-Gurion University, explained that oral lycopene had a protective property against UV skin damage, which suggested a potential inverse connection between lycopene and skin cancer. He reported that while sunscreens provide external protection from damaging UV rays, antioxidants like lycopene in the diet might provide internal protection from sunburn.

Some researches in men with precancerous changes in their prostate shows that taking 4 mg of  lycopene supplements twice daily might delay or avoid progression to prostate cancer. In a prospective cohort study, an inverse association between lycopene levels and overall cancer risk was observed, suggesting that higher concentrations of  lycopene may help lower cancer risk overall. Men with the highest levels of serum lycopene had a 45% lower risk of cancer than did men with the lowest levels of lycopene. In a study, participants with HGPIN (high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia) received 4 mg of  lycopene twice a day or no lycopene  for two years. A greater reduction in serum PSA (Prostat Spesifik Antijen) levels was observed in those treated with lycopene, compared with those who did not take the lycopene. During follow-up, adenocarcinomas were diagnosed more often in patients who had not received the lycopene than in people who had received lycopene. These results demonstrate that lycopene may be effective in preventing HGPIN from progressing to prostate cancer.

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