Phase I-II prospective dose-escalating trial of lycopene in patients with biochemical relapse of prostate cancer after definitive local therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To report a prospective trial of lycopene supplementation in biochemically relapsed prostate cancer.


METHODS
A total of 36 men with biochemically relapsed prostate cancer were enrolled in a dose-escalating, Phase I-II trial of lycopene supplementation. Six consecutive cohorts of 6 patients each received daily supplementation with 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 mg/day for 1 year. The serum levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and plasma levels of lycopene were measured at baseline and every 3 months. The primary endpoints were PSA response (defined as a 50% decrease in serum PSA from baseline), pharmacokinetics, and the toxicity/tolerability of this regimen.


RESULTS
A total of 36 patients were enrolled. The median age was 74 years (range 56 to 83), with a median serum PSA at entry of 4.4 ng/mL (range 0.8 to 24.9). No serum PSA responses were observed, and 37% of patients had PSA progression. The median time to progression was not reached. Toxicity was mild, with 1 patient discontinuing therapy because of diarrhea. Significant elevations of plasma lycopene were noted at 3 months and then appeared to plateau for all six dose levels. The plasma levels for doses between 15 and 90 mg/day were similar, with additional elevation only at 120 mg/day.


CONCLUSIONS
Lycopene supplementation in men with biochemically relapsed prostate cancer is safe and well tolerated. The plasma levels of lycopene were similar for a wide dose range (15 to 90 mg/day) and plateaued by 3 months. Lycopene supplementation at the doses used in this study did not result in any discernible response in serum PSA.
Clark
Peter E
PE
Department of Urology and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. peclark@wfubmc.edu
Hall
M Craig
MC
Borden
Lester S
LS
Miller
Antonius A
AA
Hu
Jennifer J
JJ
Lee
W Robert
WR
Stindt
Diana
D
D'Agostino
Ralph
R
Lovato
James
J
Harmon
Michelle
M
Torti
Frank M
FM
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D002338:Carotenoids; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D000077276:Lycopene