Alternative prostate cancer treatment

A 62-year-old man with androgen-independent metastatic prostate cancer that had failed to respond to multiple treatment regimens stopped all conventional therapy and began 10 mg/day of lycopene and 300 mg of saw palmetto 3 times per day. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level decreased from 365 ng/ml to 140 ng/ml after 1 month and to 8.1 ng/ml after 2 months. A repeat bone scan revealed an improvement of bony metastases. He has continued the lycopene and saw palmetto and has remained asymptomatic for an unspecified period of time.

Comment: Androgen-independent prostate cancer is difficult to treat and has a relatively poor prognosis. This case report, which demonstrates a partial remission, is therefore quite promising. The authors of the study attributed the benefit solely to the lycopene, since saw palmetto does not typically reduce PSA levels in men with BPH. However, it is not possible to rule out an anti-cancer effect of saw palmetto in this patient. Moreover, it is difficult to believe that such a small amount of lycopene, which can be obtained from less than 3 tablespoons of spaghetti sauce per day, could by itself have such a profound impact on a patient with advanced, treatment-resistant prostate cancer. Clearly, additional trials with these natural compounds are warranted.

Matlaga BR, Hall MC, Stindt D, Torti FM. Response of hormone refractory prostate cancer to lycopene. J Urol 2001;166:613.