Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The role of complementary medicine in the treatment of prostate cancer

  • Published:
Current Urology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has recently attracted national attention in the United States because of its widespread use and associated cost. CAM covers a broad spectrum of healing philosophies and approaches. Despite its widespread use, little is known about its safety, efficacy, cost effectiveness, and mechanism of action. The role of CAM in the management of prostate cancer is becoming more apparent with its rise in use among patients who are suffering from prostate cancer. This trend is patient-driven and reflects the change in values perceived by patients toward conventional medical treatment. In this review, several complementary therapies that can be used for prevention and treatment of prostate cancer are discussed. These therapies were selected because they are supported by scientific evidence. The popularity of CAM continues to grow and CAM is here to stay. Health care professionals can no longer afford to ignore or to treat CAM as an entity outside of conventional science. To acknowledge and to monitor its use among our patients may in the future help evaluate the safety and efficacy of CAM. Our current challenge is to move the field of CAM forward scientifically and systematically with wisdom and reasoning.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, et al.: Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990-1997. JAMA 1998, 280:1569–1575. This JAMA article examined the trends of “alternative medicine” use between 1990 and 1997 in the United States. It gives a good assessment of the increases in alternative medicine use and expenditures in our population.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Defining and describing complementary and alternative medicine. Panel on definition and description, CAM Research Methodology Conference, April 1995. Alternative Therapies 1997, 3:49–57.

  3. Wetzel MS, Eisenberg DM, Kaptchuk TJ: Courses involving complementary and alternative medicine at US medical schools. JAMA 1998, 280:784–787.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Pelletier KR, Marie A, Krasner M, Haskell WL: Current trends in the integration and reimbursement of complementary and alternative medicine by managed care, insurance carriers, and hospital providers. Am J Health Promot 1997, 12:112–123.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Parker SL, Tong T, Bolden S, Wingo PA: Cancer statistics, 1997. CA Cancer J Clin 1997, 47:5–27.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Sugarman J, Burk L: Physicians' ethical obligations regarding alternative medicine. JAMA 1998, 280:1623–1625.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Lippert MC, McClain R, Boyd JC, Theodorescu D: Alternative medicine use in patients with localized prostate carcinoma treated with curative intent. Cancer 1999, 86:2642–2648. The authors examined the prevalence of alternative medicine use by patients who have diagnosed prostate cancer.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kao GD, Devine P: Use of complementary health practices by prostate carcinoma patients undergoing radiation therapy. Cancer 2000, 88:615–619.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Eisenberg DM: Advising patients who seek alternative medical therapies. Ann Intern Med 1997, 127:61–69.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Cui J, Garle M, Eneroth P, Bjorkhem I: What do commercial ginseng preparations contain? Lancet 1994, 344:619.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. NIH Consensus developmental panel on acupuncture. JAMA 1998, 280:1518–1524.

  12. Kubota T, Hisatake J, Hisatake Y, et al.: PC-SPES: a unique inhibitor of proliferation of prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Prostate 2000, 42:163–171.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. de la Taille A, Buttyan R, Hayek O, et al.: Herbal therapy PC-SPES in vitro effects and evaluation of its efficacy in 69 patients with prostate cancer. J Urol 2000, 164:1229–1234. This study examined the use of PC-SPEC for the treatment of prostate cancer in both animal models and humans.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Darzynkiewicz Z, Traganos F, Wu JM, Chen S: Chinese herbal mixture PC SPES in treatment of prostate cancer. Int J Oncol 2000, 17:729–736. This is a comprehensive review of available literature on the herbal combination PC-SPES. It covers in vitro studies that reveal the basic mechanism of its anticancer activity.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. DiPaola RS, Zhang H, Lambert GH, et al.: Clinical and biologic activity of an estrogenic herbal combination (PC-SPES) in prostate cancer. N Engl J Med 1998, 339:785–791.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Liao S, Hiipakka RA: Selective inhibition of steroid 5 alpha-reductase isozymes by tea epicatechin-3-gallate and epigallocatechin-3-gallate. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1995, 214:833–838.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Gupta S, Ahmad N, Nieminen AL, Mukhtar H: Growth inhibition, cell-cycle dysregulation, and induction of apoptosis by green tea constituent (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate in androgen-sensitive and androgen-insensitive human prostate carcinoma cells. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2000, 164:82–90.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Liao S, Umekita Y, Guo J, et al.: Growth inhibition and regression of human prostate and breast tumors in athymic mice by tea epigallocatechin gallate. Cancer Lett 1995, 96:239–243.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Pinto JT, Qiao C, Xing J, et al.: Effects of garlic thioallyl derivatives on growth, glutathione concentration, and polyamine formation of human prostate carcinoma cells in culture. Am J Clin Nutr 1997, 66:398–405.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Sigounas G, Hooker J, Anagnostou A, Steiner M: S-allylmer-captocysteine inhibits cell proliferation and reduces the viability of erythroluekemia, breast, and prostate cancer cell lines. Nutr Cancer 1997, 27:186–191.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Heber D: The stinking rose: organosulfur compounds and cancer. Am J Clin Nutr 1997, 66:425–426.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Zackheim HS: Re: Tomatoes, tomato-based products, lycopene, and prostate cancer: review of the epidemiologic literature. J Natl Cancer Inst 1999,J Natl Cancer Inst199991:1331.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Clinton SK, Emenhiser C, Schwartz SJ, et al.: Cis-trans lycopene isomers, carotenoids, and retinal in the human prostate. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1996, 5:823–833.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Giovannucci E, Ascherio A, Rimm EB, et al.: Intake of carotenoids and retinol in relation to risk of prostate cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1995, 87:1767–1776.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Hall AK: Liarozole amplifies retinoid-induced apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells. Anticancer Drugs 1996, 7:312–320.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Levy J, Bosin E, Feldman B, et al.: Lycopene is a more potent inhibitor of human cancer cell proliferation than either alpha-carotene or beta-carotene. Nutr Cancer 1995, 24:257–266.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Clark LC, Combs GF Jr, Turnbull BW, et al.: Effects of selenium supplementation for cancer prevention in patients with carcinoma of the skin. A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 1996, 276:1957–1963.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Hunter DJ, Morris JS, Stampfer MJ, et al.: A prospective study of selenium status and breast cancer risk. JAMA 1990, 264:1128–1131.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Schrauzer GN, White DA, Schneider CJ: Cancer mortality correlation studies III. Statistical associations with dietary selenium intakes. Bioinorg Chem 1977, 7:23–34.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Van den Brandt PA, Goldbohm RA, van't Veer P, et al.: A prospective cohort study on selenium levels and risk of gastrointestinal cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993, 85:224–229.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Cotgreave JA, Moldus P, Orrenius S: Host biochemical defense mechanisms against peroxidants. Ann Rev Pharm Toxicol 1988, 28:189–212.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Horvath P, Ip C: Synergistic effect of vitamin E and selenium in the chemoprevention of mammary carcinogenesis in rats. Cancer Res 1983, 43:5335–5341.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Takada H, Hirooka T, Hatano T, et al.: Inhibition of 7,12-dime-thylbenz[ a]anthracene-induced lipid peroxidation and mammary tumor development in rats by vitamin E in conjunction with selenium. Nutr Cancer 1992, 17:115–122.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Sigounas G, Anagnostou A, Steiner M: dl-alpha-tocopherol induces apoptosis in erythroleukemia, prostate, and breast cancer cells. Nutr Cancer 1997, 28:30–35.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Schwartz GG, Oeler TA, Uskokovic MR, Bahnson RR: Human prostate cancer cells: inhibition of proliferation by vitamin D analogs. Anticancer Res 1994, 14:1077–1081.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Schwartz GG, Wang MH, Zang M, et al.: 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D (calcitriol) inhibits the invasiveness of human prostate cancer cells. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1997, 6:727–732.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Skowronski RJ, Peehl DM, Feldman D: Actions of vitamin D3, analogs on human prostate cancer cell lines: comparison with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Endocrinology 1995, 136:20–26.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Campbell MJ, Elstner E, Holden S, et al.: Inhibition of pro-liferation of prostate cancer cells by a 19-nor-hexaflouride vitamin D3 analogue involves the induction of p21kipl and E-Cadherin. J Mol Endocrinol 1997, 19:15–27.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Braun MM, Helzlsouer KJ, Hollis BW, Comstock GW: Prostate cancer and prediagnostic levels of serum vitamin D metabolites. Cancer Causes Control 1995, 6:235–239.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Corder EH, Guess HA, Hulka BS, et al.: Vitamin D and prostate cancer: a prediagnostic study with stored sera. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1993, 2:467–472.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Hanchette CL, Schwartz GG: Geographic patterns of prostate cancer: evidence for a protective effect of ultraviolet radiation. Cancer 1992, 70:2861–2869.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Pienta KJ, Esper PS: Risk factors for prostate cancer. Ann Intern Med 1993, 118:793–803.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Ross RK, Henderson BE: Do diet and androgens alter prostate cancer risk via a common etiologic pathway? J Natl Cancer Inst 1994, 86:252–254.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Hamalainen E, Adlercreutz H, Pusak P, Pietinen P: Diet and serum sex hormones in healthy men. J Steroid Biochem 1984, 20:459–464.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Rosenthal MB, Barnard RJ, Rose DP, et al.: Effects of a high-complex-carbohydrate, low fat, low cholesterol diet on levels of serum lipids and estradiol. Am J Med 1985, 78:23–27.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Coward L, Barnes NC, Setchell KDR, Barnes S: Genistein, diadzein and their b-glycoside conjugates: antitumor isoflavones in soybean foods from American and Asian diets. J Agric Food Chem 1993, 41:1961–1967.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Messina M, Barnes S: The role of soy products in reducing risk of cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1991, 83:541–546.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Messina MJ, Persky V, Setchell KD, Barnes S: Soy intake and cancer risk: a review of the in vitro and in vivo data. Nutr Cancer 1994,Nutr Cancer199421:113–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Peterson G, Barnes S: Genistein and biochanin A inhibit the growth of human prostate cancer cells but not epidermal growth factor receptor authophosphorylation. Prostate 1993, 22:335–345.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Pollard M, Luckert PH: Influence of isoflavones in soy protein isolates on development of induced prostate-related cancers in L-W rats. Nutr Cancer 1997, 28:41–45.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Jewell K, Kapron-Bras C, Jeevaratnam P, Dedhar S: Stimulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of distinct proteins in response to antibody-mediated ligation and clustering of alpha 3 and alpha 6 integrins. J Cell Sci 1995, 108:1165–1174.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Kyle E, Neckers L, Takimoto C, et al.: Genistein-induced apoptosis of prostate cancer cells is preceded by a specific decrease in focal adhesion kinase activity. Mol Pharmacol 1997,Mol Pharmacol 199751:193–200.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Fotsis T, Pepper M, Adlercruetz H, et al.: Genistein, a dietary-derived inhibitor of in vitro angiogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1993, 90:2690–2694.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Schweigerer L, Christeleit K, Fleischmann G, et al.: Identifi-cation in human urine of a natural growth inhibitor for cells derived from solid paediatric tumours. Euro J Clin Invest 1992, 2:260–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Folkman J: What is the evidence that tumors are angiogenesis dependent? J Natl Cancer Inst 1990, 82:4–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Giovannucci E, Rimm EB, Colditz GA, et al.: A prospective study of dietary fat and risk of prostate cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993, 85:1571–1579.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Kolonel LN, Yoshizawa CN, Hankin JN: Diet and prostatic cancer: a case-control study in Hawaii. Am J Epidemiol 1988, 127:999–1012.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Mettlin C, Selenskas S, Natarajan N, Huben R: Beta-carotene and animal fats and their relationship to prostate cancer risk. Cancer 1989, 64:605–612.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. West DW, Slattery ML, Robison LM, et al.: Adult dietary intake and prostate cancer risk in Utah: a case-control study with special emphasis on aggressive tumors. Cancer Causes Control 1991, 2:85–94.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Rose DP, Connolly JM: Effects of fatty acids and eicosanoid synthesis inhibitors on the growth of two human prostate cancer cell lines. Prostate 1991, 18:243–254.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Karmali RA, Reichel P, Cohen LA, et al.: The effects of dietary w-3 fatty acids on the DU-145 transplantable human prostatic tumor. Anticancer Res 1987, 7:1173–1180.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Rose DP, Cohen LA: Effects of dietary menhaden oil and retinyl acetate on the growth of DU-145 human prostatic adenocarcinoma cells transplanted into athymic nude mice. Carcinogenesis 1988, 9:603–605.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Wang Y, Corr JG, Thaler HT, et al.: Decreased growth of established human prostate LNCaP tumors in nude mice fed a low-fat diet. J Natl Cancer Inst 1995, 87:1456–1462.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine, 900 Veteran Avenue, Warren Hall, Suite 12-217, 90095-1742, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Ian Yip MD & Nelida Duran MS, RD

Authors
  1. Ian Yip MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nelida Duran MS, RD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yip, I., Duran, N. The role of complementary medicine in the treatment of prostate cancer. Curr Urol Rep 2, 231–236 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-001-0084-y

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-001-0084-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation