Prostate Cancer Chemoprevention By A Flavonoid Supplemented Diet In The Transgenic Adenonocarcinoma Of The Murine Prostate (TRAMP) Model

Main Category: Prostate / Prostate Cancer
Also Included In: Urology / Nephrology;  Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 15 Jun 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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ORLANDO, FL (UroToday.com) - Dietary and environmental factors have been postulated to account for differences in prostate cancer incidence and mortality worldwide. Amongst the many dietary components implicated in the apparent chemopreventive effect of the components implicated in the apparent chemopreventive effect of the Asian diet is the group of micronutrients called flavonoids, consumed in high amounts in these regions. In previous screening experiments, this group of Canadian researchers identified 4 flavonoids (2,2'-dihydroxychalcone [DHC], fisetin, quercetin and luteolin) with anti-proliferative effects in prostate cancer cell lines. The researchers hypothesized that oral consumption of these flavonoids reduces the incidence and progression of prostate cancer in a transgenic animal model.

They used the Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of the Murine Prostate (TRAMP) model. Mice (20 per group) were fed one of 4 diets ad libitum for 28 weeks from weaning: 1) Flavonoid free control, 2) 1% fisetin, 3) 1%DHC, and 4) 1% combination flavonoid diet. Mice underwent weekly body weight measurements and were monitored for signs of toxicity. At 32 weeks of age, mice were sacrificed and serum and tissue collected for further analysis.

There was a 63% reduction in wet prostate tumor weight in the combination flavonoid group compared to control (mean 2.2g vs 5.8g, p=0.0033). In addition, we observed a 44% reduction in the number of mice with histologic evidence of prostate cancer in the combination flavonoid group compared to the flavonoid-free control, with non-significant reductions noted for the fisetin and DHC alone groups. There was no evidence of toxicity based on body weight measurements, histological examination of major organs and hematological parameters. Analysis of flavonoid levels by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry confirmed target site availability of unaltered flavonoid in prostate tissue.

They conclude that a combination flavonoid died can inhibit the progression of prostate carcinogenesis in a transgenic model.

Presented by Ahmed Haddad, MD, Vasundara Venkateswaran, MD, Neil E Fleshner, MD, Linda M Sugar, MD, Emma Guns, MD, and Laurence H Klotz, MD, at the Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) - May 17 - 22, 2008. Orange County Convention Center - Orlando, Florida, USA.

Reported by UroToday.com Contributing Editor Christopher P. Evans, MD, FACS

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