Natural Substance May Treat Prostate Cancer

A laboratory study has found that a natural substance called quercetin--found in onions, apples, red wine, and tea—may represent a new approach for preventing and treating prostate cancer. Results of the study, conducted by researchers at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, USA), were published in the March issue of Carcinogenesis.

In the study, quercetin demonstrated significant activity against the androgen receptor in human prostate cancer cells. Androgens in the prostate gland are mediated by this receptor. Current treatment for advanced prostate cancer includes suppressing androgen by medication or surgery. However, the cancer recurs in one or two years in about 80% of patients after having the therapy, which may be due to mutations in the androgen receptor. According to Dr. Nianzeng Xing, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic researcher involved in the study, it appears that the cancer learns to grow in the prostate with less hormone or even without the need of hormones.

"In view of that fact,” said Dr. Xing, "a more effective strategy in the fight against prostate cancer may to minmize or eliminate the amount of the androgen receptor.”
Quercetin may make this possible. The next research step will be to study quercetin's effects in a mouse model with prostate cancer.




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