Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer is a common Cancer in men over the age of 50, being the most common male Cancer after Skin Cancer. In younger males, the normal Prostate is the size of a walnut, but it is usually much larger in older men. About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, the average age of diagnosis is around 66. It is the second leading cause of Cancer death in men after Lung Cancer, with approximately 1 in 41 men dying of Cancer (most being elderly). However, the majority of men diagnosed with Prostate Cancer don’t die from it.Some researchers have stated that most men over the age of 50 will have Prostate cancer cells in their prostate and indeed autopsies of many males both above and below 50 years of age have shown they have had Prostate Cancer that was unknown and unrelated to their cause of death.
Many cases of Prostate Cancer are asymptomatic, slow-growing and confined to the Prostate gland and can be treated with mild and non-invasive therapy. However, aggressive types of Prostate Cancer can metastasize quickly and therefore require strong treatment.
Most Prostate Cancers are Adenocarcinomas, these cells forming from the cells that produce seminal fluid. Rarely, other types of Prostate Cancer occur including Small Cell Carcinoma and Sarcomas.
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer may include:
- Difficulty urinating, dribbling urine, decrease in flow of urine
- Blood in the Urine or Semen
- Erectile dysfunction
- Bone pain
- Loss of weight
Risk Factors
- Over 50
- Family History
- Being Black (Black people have higher incidence and higher chance of agressive types of Prostate Cancer
- Obesity
Diagnosis
- PSA tests (1 in 4 with PSA of 4–10 will have prostate cancer; over 10 has a 50% chance)
- Digital Rectal examination
- Biopsy is required if cancer is suspected as it is the only way to be certain
Western Treatment may include
- Monitoring (6 monthly PSA tests)
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy
- Immunotherapy or Hormone therapy
Diet advice
Reducing red meat, sugar, refined carbohydrates and increasing fruit, vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds is advised. –Lycopene (Tomatos) has been associated with lowering of PSA and increasing apoptosis of Proastate cancer cells. –Green tea has likewise showed lowering of PSA. Pomegranate juice showed prolonging of doubling time of PSA and has also promoted apoptosis in Prostate cells.
–Asparagus is also advisable as it has a a particular effect on the urinary system and has been shown to have an anti-cancer effect.
–While soy isoflavoners have not been shown to reduce PSA levels there is a significantly lower prostate cancer incidence in people taking soy isflavones.
–Parsley is rich in apigenin which has anti-cancer effects against Prostate Cancer too.
Metastatic Prostate Cancer
In a study using TCM in metastatic Prostate Cancer, Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang, had the most significant improvement in the survival rate of metastatic prostate cancer patients. Also effective, but to a lesser degree were Suan Zao Ren Tang, Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang and Ba Wei Di Huang Wan. (See research here)
Herbs with Proven Effects
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Agnus Castus Arum Black Nightshade Cannabis Costus Ganoderma Ling Zhi |
Litchi seed: Lithospermum Rhubarb Scutellaria Huang Qin Scutellaria Ban Zhi Lian Thyme |
Toxicodendron Gan Qi Tripterygium Turmeric Wedelia Realgar |
Special Formula
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Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan + Shi Pi San This combination was used in a 71 year old with Prostate Cancer. There was a significant reducetion in tumor size and symptoms. (see here) Danggui Beimu Kushen Wan Dang Gui Sophora Ku Shen Fritillaria Zhe Bei Mu Prostate Cancer Rabdosia Dong Ling Cao Scutellaria Huang Qin Isatis Da Qing Ye Notoginseng San Qi Chrysanthemum Ju Hua Ganoderma Ling Zhi Licorice Saw Palmetto (From Chen & Chen) Prostate Cancer Siberian Ginseng Astragalus Huang Qi Ganoderma Ling Zhi Codonopsis Dang Shen Atractylodes Bai Zhu Psoralea Bu Gu Zi Schisandra Wu Wei Zi Licorice This has been studied and found effective (see here) |
EQUIGUARD Epimedium Yin Yang Huo Morinda Bai Ji Tian Rosa laevigatae Jin Ying Zi Rubus chingii Fu Pen Zi Schisandra Wu Wei Zi Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi Cuscuta Tu Si Zi Psoralea Bu Gu Zhi Astragalus Huang Qi This formula was tested and shown to have multiple effects against Androne-dependent and Androgen-independent Prostate Cancer. (see here) Yang Yin Yi Shen Decoction Astragalus Huang Qi 20 grams Codonopsis Dang Shen 20 grams Atractylodes Bai Zhu 15 grams Poria Fu Ling 10 grams Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong 15 grams Rehmannia Shu Di Huang 15 grams Turtle Shell Bie Jia 25 grams Donkey Hide Gelatin (E Jiao) 10 grams Polygonatum Yu Zhu 15 grams Scutellaria Ban Zhi Lian 25 grams Hedyotis Bai Hua She She Cao 25 grams Coix Yi Yi Ren 20 grams This and several similar formulas have been studied and found to increase quality of life, PSA, and in some cases, reduce mortality and increase life expectancy. |
Research
General–Complementary traditional Chinese medicine therapy improves survival in patients with metastatic prostate cancer
–Chinese Medicines in the Treatment of Prostate Cancer: From Formulas to Extracts and Compounds
–Prostate cancer: Therapeutic prospect with herbal medicine
–Plant flavone apigenin: An emerging anticancer agent
–Prostate cancer and the unfolded protein response
–A screening of growth inhibitory activity of Iranian medicinal plants on prostate cancer cell lines.
Herbs
Agnus Castus
–Casticin inhibits human prostate cancer DU 145 cell migration and invasion via Ras/Akt/NF‐κB signaling pathways
Arum
–Arum Palaestinum with isovanillin, linolenic acid and β-sitosterol inhibits prostate cancer spheroids and reduces the growth rate of prostate tumors in mice.
Cannabis
–Cannabinoids and Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review of Animal Studies
–Non-THC cannabinoids inhibit prostate carcinoma growth in vitro and in vivo: pro-apoptotic effects and underlying mechanisms
–Towards the use of non-psychoactive cannabinoids for prostate cancer
–Preclinical and Clinical Assessment of Cannabinoids as Anti-Cancer Agents
–Inhibition of human tumour prostate PC-3 cell growth by cannabinoids R(+)-Methanandamide and JWH-015: Involvement of CB2
–The role of cannabinoids in prostate cancer: Basic science perspective and potential clinical applications
–Proapoptotic effect of endocannabinoids in prostate cancer cells
Commiphora (Guggulu)
–Steroids from Commiphora mukul display antiproliferative effect against human prostate cancer PC3 cells via induction of apoptosis.
–Reactive oxygen species-dependent apoptosis by gugulipid extract of Ayurvedic medicine plant Commiphora mukul in human prostate cancer cells is regulated by c-Jun N-terminal kinase.
–Guggulsterone-induced apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells is caused by reactive oxygen intermediate dependent activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase.
Costus:
–Anticancer effect of Saussurea lappa extract via dual control of apoptosis and autophagy in prostate cancer cells.
–Apoptosis of DU145 human prostate cancer cells induced by dehydrocostus lactone isolated from the root of Saussurea lappa.
Curcuma (Turmeric)
–Curcumin inhibits the survival and metastasis of prostate cancer cells via the Notch‐1 signaling pathway
–Modulation of miR‐34a in curcumin‐induced antiproliferation of prostate cancer cells
Ganoderma
–Chinese Herbal Medicine Ganoderma tsugae Displays Potential Anti-Cancer Efficacy on Metastatic Prostate Cancer Cells
–Ganoderma lucidum suppresses angiogenesis through the inhibition of secretion of VEGF and TGF-β1 from prostate cancer cells
Ginger
–Zingerone suppresses cell proliferation via inducing cellular apoptosis and inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells.
Green Tea
–Protective effect of green tea against prostate cancer: a case‐control study in southeast China
Hedyotis
–Investigating the Multi-Target Pharmacological Mechanism of Hedyotis diffusa Willd Acting on Prostate Cancer: A Network Pharmacology Approach.
–Novel cyclotides from Hedyotis diffusa induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation and migration of prostate cancer cells.
Houttunynia
–Suppressive Effect and Molecular Mechanism of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. Extract against Prostate Carcinogenesis and Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Lemon Balm:
–The herbal medicine Melissa officinalis extract effects on gene expression of p53, Bcl-2, Her2, VEGF-A and hTERT in human lung, breast and prostate cancer cell lines.
Licorice
–Glycyrrhiza glabra-Enhanced Extract and Adriamycin Antiproliferative Effect on PC-3 Prostate Cancer Cells.
Lithospermum Zi Cao
–Prostate cancer and the unfolded protein response
–Shikonin selectively induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells through the endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial apoptotic pathway
–Shikonin inhibits the growth of human prostate cancer cells via modulation of the androgen receptor
–Shikonin Reduces Growth of Docetaxel-Resistant Prostate Cancer Cells Mainly through Necroptosis
Myrrh
–Cycloartan-24-ene-1α,2α,3β-triol, a cycloartane-type triterpenoid from the resinous exudates of Commiphora myrrha, induces apoptosis in human prostatic cancer PC-3 cells.
Physalis
–P. angulata (whole plant extract) showed significant anti-proliferative activity against DU145 prostate cancer cells. The withanolides (physangulidines A, B and C) were responsible. (Jin et al., Org Lett., Mar 2012)
–P. angulata had significant anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic activity. (Hseu et al., J Ethnopharmacol, Jun, 2011)
Rabdosia
–Oridonin induces G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in hormone-independent prostate cancer cells.
–Analysis of the interactions of botanical extract combinations against the viability of prostate cancer cell lines.
–Mechanism of action of herbal supplement PC-SPES: elucidation of effects of individual herbs of PC-SPES on proliferation and prostate specific gene expression in androgen-dependent LNCaP cells.
–Role of herbal compounds (PC-SPES) in hormone-refractory prostate cancer: two case reports.
Rheum, Rhubarb
–Apoptosis induction in MDA-MB-435S, Hep3B and PC-3 cell lines by Rheum emodi rhizome extracts.
Rosemary
–Polyphenols from the Mediterranean herb rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) for prostate cancer.
–Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) extract inhibits prostate cancer cell proliferation and survival by targeting Akt and mTOR.
Ruta
–Anti-tumor and Cytotoxic effects were demonstrated by a 70% ethanol extract of Herba Rutae against a number of human tumor cell lines including Prostate adenocarinoma and Large Cell Lung Carcinoma
Thymus
–Thyme infusion regulated p65 subunit in PC3 Prostate Cancer cells, suggesting it may be useful in Prostate Cancer treatment. (Kallora et al., Food Chem., Jan, 2014)
Solanum nigrum
–Selective cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells by a polyphenol-rich extract of Solanum nigrum
–α-Solanine Inhibits Invasion of Human Prostate Cancer Cell by Suppressing Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and MMPs Expression
–Polyphenol extract of mature Fructus Solanum Nigrii promoted cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in several Prostate Cancer cell lines without affecting normal prostate cells. (Nawab et al., Int J Mol Med., Feb, 2012)
Turmeric:
–Curcumin against Prostate Cancer: Current Evidence
–Combinatorial cytotoxic effects of Curcuma longa and Zingiber officinale on the PC-3M prostate cancer cell line
Toxicodendron Gan Qi
–Pharmacological Modulation of Steroid Activity in Hormone-Dependent Breast and Prostate Cancers: Effect of Some Plant Extract Derivatives
–Butein Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Prostate Tumor Growth In Vitro and In Vivo