NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Drinking 8 ounces per day of pomegranate juice significantly increases the PSA doubling time in men with recurrent prostate cancer, according to the results of a phase II study presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association in San Antonio.
“The average PSA doubling time before the men began using pomegranate juice was 15 months,” lead author Dr. Allan J. Pantuck, from the University of California at Los Angeles, told Reuters Health. “The average time after treatment was 37 months. So, there was almost a 2-year increase in the doubling time.”
Pomegranate juice contains a number of antioxidants thought to have anti-cancer effects, Dr. Pantuck noted. In addition, the juice contains phytoestrogens that could be useful in combatting prostate cancer, in particular.
Based on encouraging results in cell culture and in animal models of prostate cancer, Dr. Pantuck said his team decided to conduct a clinical trial of pomegranate juice in 48 men with rising PSA levels after surgery or radiotherapy for their malignancy. As noted, the subjects were instructed to consume 8 ounces of pomegranate juice daily.
The treatment was well tolerated and no serious adverse effects were seen, the report indicates. Moreover, none of the men developed metastatic disease during the study.
In addition to the increase in PSA doubling time, in vitro testing showed decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. Urine testing confirmed the presence of pomegranate polyphenols in all men.
Given these promising findings, Dr. Pantuck noted that a multicenter phase III randomized trial is now in the works.
The study was funded by the Stewart and Lynda Resnick Trust, which own the POM Wonderful pomegranate juice company. None of the investigators disclosed any affiliations.
MeSH Headings:Antioxidants: Congresses: Health Care Economics and Organizations: Genital Neoplasms, Male: Neoplasms: Neoplasms by Site: Organizations: Prostatic Neoplasms: Urogenital Neoplasms: Diseases: Health CareCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
