Oral infusion of pomegranate fruit extract inhibits prostate carcinogenesis in the TRAMP model

Carcinogenesis. 2012 Mar;33(3):644-51. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgr308. Epub 2011 Dec 22.

Abstract

We earlier provided evidence that oral consumption of pomegranate fruit extract (PFE) inhibits prostate cancer (PCa) cell growth in nude mice. To ascertain convincing evidence of chemopreventive effects of PFE against PCa, its efficacy requires to be evaluated in animal models that closely emulate human disease. Here, we provide evidence of remarkable tumor growth inhibitory effects of PFE using the TRAMP model. Mice received 0.1 and 0.2% PFE, equivalent to 250 and 500 ml of pomegranate juice, in drinking water, starting at 6 weeks and examined at 12, 20 and 34 weeks of age. In water-fed group, 100% mice developed palpable tumors by 20 weeks compared with only 30 and 20% in the 0.1 and 0.2% PFE-supplemented groups, respectively. At 34 weeks, palpable tumors were observed in 70 of 0.1% and only 50 of 0.2% PFE-supplemented mice. Compared with median survival of 43 weeks in water-fed mice, 0.1 and 0.2% PFE-supplemented mice exhibited median life expectancy of 73 and 92 weeks, respectively. Compared with respective water-fed groups, none of the mice in PFE-supplemented groups exhibited metastases to any of the distant organs at 20 weeks and only 20% mice exhibited metastasis at 34 weeks of age. Many of the PFE-supplemented animals had multiple foci of well-differentiated carcinoma but no evidence of poorly differentiated carcinoma. PFE supplementation resulted in simultaneous and significant inhibition of IGF-I/Akt/mTOR pathways in the prostate tissues and tumors. We suggest that pomegranate juice be evaluated in clinical trials in patients at high risk for developing PCa.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / pharmacology
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism
  • Lythraceae*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Phytotherapy / methods*
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use
  • Prostate / drug effects
  • Prostate / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Random Allocation
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Anticarcinogenic Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • mTOR protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases