Lycopene May Prohibit Cancer Cell Growth

Lycopene May Prohibit Cancer Cell Growth

BEER-SHEVA, Israel--At the September IGFs and Cancer symposium inHalle, Germany, Dr. Joseph Levy from Ben-Gurion University, based here,presented a study suggesting that lycopene may lower IGF-1 (insulin-like growthfactor) levels, markers that indicate such cancers as breast and prostate.

In a four-week, placebo-controlled study, 56 subjects were given either 15 mgof lycopene or a placebo twice per day. In the lycopene group, IGF-1 levelsdecreased by more than 10 percent in 54 percent of participants, whereas onlyfive percent of the placebo group experienced similar results. Researchers, ledby Levy, found that growth stimulation of mammary cancer cells by IGF-1 wasmarkedly reduced by physiological concentrations of lycopene. The researchersconcluded that the inhibitory effects of lycopene on cancer cell growth was notdue to the toxicity of the carotenoid but was due to an interference in IGF-1receptor signaling and cell cycle progression. LycoRed Natural ProductsIndustries Ltd. supplied the product. For additional information, visit www.lycored.com.