Tomato nutrient lycopene could be used for cancer treatment

Lycopene, a nutrient found in cooked tomatoes, has been found to slow the growth of prostate cancer cells, and has even been found to kill it in some cases.

The nutrient is widely known for giving tomatoes their red colour, but researchers at the University of Portsmouth have found that it can intercept cancer growth by blocking its ability to make the connections it needs to attach to a healthy blood supply.

Director of the research Dr Chopra said: “This simple chemical reaction was shown to occur at lycopene concentrations that can easily be achieved by eating processed tomatoes.”

The tests were performed in test-tubes in lab conditions, and the researchers are now calling for tests to check if the same reaction occurs in the human body. Earlier studies have showed a significant increase in lycopene levels in blood and semen samples after subjects ate 400g of processed tomatoes for two weeks.

In 2008, 37,051 men in the UK were diagnosed with prostate cancer. 10,168 men in the UK died from prostate cancer in 2008 according to Cancer Research UK.

Posted by Fiona Griffiths