Natural Substance in Fruits and Vegetables may
be Potential Treatment for Prostate Cancer

ROCHESTER, MINN. -- Quercetin (kwer-se-ten), a natural 
substance found in apples, onions, tea and red wine, may
be a potentially novel approach for preventing and treating
prostate cancer, according to a laboratory research study
conducted at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. 

The results of the study were presented today, March 26, at 
the 92nd annual meeting of the American Association for
Cancer Research (AACR) in New Orleans. The study also is
published in this month’s issue of the cancer journal 
Carcinogenesis. 

"Our laboratory results showed quercetin blocks the androgen
(hormone) activity in androgen-responsive human prostate
cancer cell lines," says Nianzeng Xing, Ph.D., the Mayo Clinic 
researcher who presented the results of the study at AACR. 

"By blocking the androgen activity, the growth of prostate 
cancer cells can be prevented or stopped," he said. "Our study
suggests quercetin may be a potential non-hormonal approach
to accomplishing that goal." 

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death 
in men in the United States. It annually claims about 31,500 
men, accounting for about 11 percent of male cancer-related
deaths. 

The findings may lead to another treatment option for the 
nearly 200,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer annually 
in the United States. It also may mean that eventually some
men may not have to undergo castration, the current, 
commonly used treatment for advanced prostate cancer. 

However, Dr. Xing cautions, more research is required to 
determine whether the preliminary laboratory findings 
about quercetin translate into actual benefit for men either
at risk or diagnosed with prostate cancer. 

Quercetin is an abundant, naturally occurring flavonoid 
compound. In addition to apples, onions, black and green 
tea, and red wine, the compound is found in green leafy
vegetables, beans and citrus fruits. 

Quercetin has been studied scientifically for the past 30 
years. It’s documented as safe and having relatively low
toxicity. 

The compound is currently used in therapeutic treatments 
for allergic conditions such as asthma, hay fever, eczema 
and hives. It’s also used clinically to treat several inflammatory 
conditions, including gout, pancreatitis and prostatitis. 

The Mayo Clinic study is the first research indicating quercetin
has significant activity against the androgen receptor in the 
human prostate cancer cell lines. 

Androgens are male hormones, the most common being
testosterone. Androgens also are involved in the 
development, progression and growth of prostate cancer. 

The biological effects of androgens in the prostate are 
mediated by the androgen receptor, says Dr. Xing. An 
activated androgen receptor can turn on or off critical 
genes, which affect the biology and pathology of the
prostate. 

"Our laboratory data showed that androgen receptor 
expression was inhibited by quercetin and the rate of 
response was dose-dependent," says Dr. Xing. "Our study
also delineated the mechanism by which quercetin reduced
the androgen receptor." 

Androgen deprivation or suppression therapy by surgery or 
medication to remove or reduce the androgens is the 
cornerstone of current treatment for advanced prostate
cancer. 

"Unfortunately, the cancer recurs in about 80 percent of 
men within one to two years after undergoing the therapy,
and this may be correlated with mutations in the androgen 
receptor," says Dr. Xing. 

"The androgen receptor may function with either a small of 
amount of androgen or independently of androgens," he says.
"As a result, the cancer learns to grow in the prostate with
less hormone or even without the need of the hormones." 

In view of that fact, Dr. Xing says, "A more effective strategy 
in the fight against prostate cancer may be to minimize or 
eliminate the amount of the androgen receptor." 

The Mayo Clinic research study indicated that this strategy
may be possible with quercetin. 

The next step in the research process is to study the effects 
of quercetin in a laboratory mouse model with prostate 
cancer. 

DESCRIPTION OF ANDROGENS AND ANDROGEN RECEPTOR 
Androgens are hormones that enter the prostate cell and 
bind to the androgen receptor protein. The function of the 
androgen receptor is similar to a light switch in that the 
receptor turns on certain genes in the prostate. These 
certain genes promote the growth of prostate cancer cells. 
By knocking out the androgen receptor switch, as suggested
by the Mayo Clinic study, prostate cancer cells are prevented
from growing.
 
 

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                            individual and may vary
 

                         
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