title: Lycopene's Effects on Cancer Cell Functions within Monolayer and Spheroid Cultures.
abstract: Lycopene, a compound that blocks the action of free radicals and oxygen molecules, is found in tomatoes and tomato-based products and linked to a reduced incidence of cancer. Increasing willingness of patients to maintain a healthy lifestyle by supplemental intake of nutrients and acceptance of alternative therapeutics has boosted research into nutraceuticals. The potential of lycopene to prevent or treat cancer has been investigated, but outcomes are inconsistent and its mode of action is still unknown. Further studies are needed to understand the role of lycopene in cancer prevention and treatment. The impact of lycopene on viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion of five different cancer cell lines was determined using monolayer and spheroid cultures. Cell viability was significantly reduced upon lycopene treatment at physiologically attainable concentrations. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion did not change upon lycopene treatment. Ovarian cancer spheroids initially showed a decreased proliferation and after 14 days increased cell viability upon lycopene treatment, confirming the potential of lycopene to reduce cancer cell growth in short-term cultures and also indicate enhanced cell viability over prolonged exposure. This study cannot substantiate that lycopene inhibits cell functions associated with tumor growth, even in a 3D cancer model that mimics the natural tumor microenvironment.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Nina Pauline
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Holzapfel
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Boris Michael
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Holzapfel
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Theodoropoulos
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaemmerer
authors.affiliation: b Human Nutrition, BASF SE , Lampertheim , Germany.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rausch
authors.affiliation: b Human Nutrition, BASF SE , Lampertheim , Germany.
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feldthusen
authors.affiliation: b Human Nutrition, BASF SE , Lampertheim , Germany.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Champ
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia.|c Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre, Translational Research Institute , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Judith Ann
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia.|d The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta , Georgia , USA.|e Institute of Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Dietmar Werner
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hutmacher
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loessner
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene