Previous research has suggested that frequent consumption of tomato products or lycopene, an antioxidant in tomato sauce, may be associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer. To confirm these findings, Edward Giovannucci, M.D., Sc.D., and colleagues from Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Harvard School of Public Health analyzed tomato-product-consumption patterns and prostate cancer cases among roughly 47,400 men enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.

The researchers found that the consumption of tomato sauce was associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer among men of Southern European descent (who typically have tomato-rich diets), and among men of Caucasian ancestry. The authors conclude that frequent consumption of tomato products is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. They note, however, that it remains to be seen whether lycopene is the key compound in reducing prostate cancer risk.

Contact: Rob Hutchison, Brigham and Womens Hospital, (617) 534-1606; fax: (617) 534-1610; rhutchison@partners.org

Ras Gene May Play a Role in the Regression of Neuroblastomas
Neuroblastomas, tumors of the nervous system found almost exclusively in children, often regress spontaneously before showing any symptoms of disease. Previous studies have suggested that cell suicide may be responsible for this process. However, apoptosis, a well-known form of cell suicide, has not appeared to play a role.

In the March 6 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Chifumi Kitanaka, M.D., Yoshiyuki Kuchino, Ph.D., of the National Cancer Center Research Institute i
'"/>

Contact: Linda Wang
jncinews@oup-usa.org
301-841-1285
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
5-Mar-2002