Can Resveratrol Help Prevent or Treat Prostate Cancer?

In 2007 the Harvard Men’s Health Watch reported on a population study conducted in Seattle, Washington to try and determine risk factors for prostate cancer—the 3rd most frequently diagnosed cancer and 2nd leading cause of death in men. What the researchers found was that those men who consumed moderate amounts (4-7 glasses a week) of red wine had significantly lower rates of prostate cancer than those who did not. Although at the time these scientists only speculated on resveratrol’s role in the apparent anti-cancer effect of red wine, many lab and animal studies have demonstrated the specific ways resveratrol works to prevent hormone-insensitive prostate cancer.^200-201

Recent research suggests that resveratrol may even be able to reduce the pain associated with cancer, especially when it metastasizes to the bone (as it frequently does in advanced stage prostate cancer). Prostate cancer is associated with increased levels of formaldehyde in the body, which in turn increases pain signaling pathways. Resveratrol can neutralize the toxic formaldehyde and prevent its painful, and cancer-promoting, effects.²⁰

An animal study published in 2008 showed that resveratrol delayed the growth of tumors in a xenograft androgen-hormone dependent prostate cancer model. However, the higher dosages (100 mg, equivalent to 1000 mL of red wine a day) caused increased growth of blood vessels in the tumor and lower levels of cancer cell death.²⁰²

Lab and animal studies using xenografted tumors grown from androgen independent prostate cancer cell lines demonstrated that oral treatment of 30 mg/kg of resveratrol three times a week significantly inhibited tumor cell growth, killed cancer cells, and blocked the formation of new blood vessels. It did so by stimulating cell-cycle and FOXO tumor suppressor proteins that promoted cell death while also blocking pro-cancer and pro-metastasis growth factors. Finally, when resveratrol was combined with conventional prostate cancer immunotherapy (TRAIL) treatment, the anti-tumor effects were greater than either substance used alone.²⁰³

Resveratrol and Curcumin—A Potent Combo against Prostate Cancer

Resveratrol combined with curcumin (liposomal-encapsulated to improve absorption) demonstrated significant anti-tumor effects on adenocarcinoma of the prostate during lab and animal studies. Results indicate that the nutrients seem to counteract the effects of not having the tumor suppressor gene that can allow the development of cancer. In combination resveratrol seemed to improve the availability of curcumin, suggesting that the combination of the two phytochemicals may offer greater therapeutic benefit.²⁰⁴

Other lab studies indicate that resveratrol stimulated pro-oxidative activity, causing damage to the mitochondria of cancer cells. When combined with TRAIL cancer therapy, resveratrol enhanced its toxicity against prostate cancer cells.²⁰⁵

In addition, research published at the end of 2010 indicates that resveratrol can inhibit high levels of formaldehyde produced by tumor cells in the body. Formaldehyde not only helps prostate cancer grow, it also causes pain—possibly by activating pain sensors that increase sensitivity and pain signals. Resveratrol injected into lab rats treated to mimic bone cancer showed significant decreases in formaldehyde and pain levels. These results suggest that resveratrol can help relieve pain in prostate cancer patients where the malignancy has spread to the bones, as well as inhibit growth in the cancer itself.²⁰