title: Lycopene as a chemopreventive agent in the treatment of high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Because of its long latency, slow growing nature, and high prevalence, prostate cancer is the best model for chemoprevention. High-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) is a precursor of prostate cancer. Chemoprevention with lycopene has shown definite results in prostate cancer. We undertook a study to use lycopene as a chemopreventive agent in the treatment of HGPIN for preventing prostate cancer from developing in this vulnerable group of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 40 patients with HGPIN were randomized into 2 groups: one received 4 mg lycopene twice a day for one year, and the other was periodically followed up. Total follow-up was one year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results show that lycopene can delay or prevent HGPIN from developing into occult prostate cancer, and there exists an inverse relationship between lycopene and prostate-specific antigen. Being a vegetable carotenoid, lycopene is a safe drug to be used for a longer period without any adverse reaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lycopene is an effective chemopreventive agent in the treatment of HGPIN, with no toxicity and good patient tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, V.M. Medical College & Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi, India. nayankm@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Nayan Kumar
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Mohanty
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.forename: Uday Pratap
authors.initials: UP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Neeraj K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.forename: Rajender Prakash
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Arora
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D019048:Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D002338:Carotenoids; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D000077276:Lycopene