Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common solid neoplasm and is one of the
major causes of cancer mortality among men. Recent studies have shown the beneficial
effect of some nutrients in PCa management. Natural phytochemicals often have
pleiotropic effects, targeting virtually every molecular signaling pathway, which makes
them promising agents for multi-target anti-cancer therapy. Furthermore, they are
usually well-tolerated, easily available and cost-efficient. This chapter describes the
variety of naturally occurring bioactive compounds used for the treatment and
prevention of prostate cancer, especially focusing on dietary polyphenols and their
analogs, including green tea polyphenols, resveratrol and curcuminoids, vitamins,
organosulfur compounds from onions and garlic (predominantly allyl derivatives) and
phytochemicals from cruciferous vegetables. While some of these compounds (e.g.
curcumin and sulforaphane) have established anticarcinogenic properties, the others
provide contradictory results in preclinical and clinical studies. Selenium and vitamin E
supplementation is the most prominent case of such controversy. In this chapter, we
cover molecular mechanisms that lead to PCa progression, as well as key mechanisms
of antitumor action. Impact of different nutrients on cancer-associated epigenetic
modifications is analyzed. Results of epidemiological studies and dietary interventions
conducted to date are also provided. Main challenges associated with design and
interpretation of such interventions are discussed, together with major issues of
developing naturally occurring compounds into clinically used agents. While a
promising scientific area, further research is required to completely elucidate the
relationship between nutrients and PCa.
Keywords: Bioactive compounds, Dietary phytochemical, Minerals, Polyphenols,
Prostate cancer, Therapy, Vitamins.