A naturally-occurring molecule shows promise as effective first-line treatment for prostate cancer (Carnosine)

Medical Xpress / Nottingham Trent University / Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine ^ | Jan. 5, 2024 | K. Habra et al

[ConservativeMind]

Scientists wanted to investigate the anti-cancer properties of carnosine against cells derived from both primary and metastatic prostate cancer.

Carnosine, which can be produced by the body and is also found in meat, has long been advocated for use as an antioxidant to facilitate healthy aging.

There have been reports of carnosine being effective against the development of a number of different cancers but this is the first time it has been studied in relation to prostate cancer.

The researchers found that carnosine stopped the cells from multiplying and at higher doses even killed cancer from both primary and metastatic cancer cells, while remaining safe to the healthy non-dividing cells.

Although carnosine is rapidly degraded by enzymes in the body the researchers argue that it could potentially be an initial treatment for prostate cancer if a constant slow release mechanism is used.

This could include injecting carnosine inside the tumor and releasing it in sufficient quantity before it begins to degrade and lose its effect.

Another approach could be through administration of carnosine-like molecules that are resistant to enzymatic degradation.

The hope then would be that the tumor growth could be monitored via the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood and if it continued to grow then the patient would have the option for surgery.

Treatments include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone deprivation therapy or a prostatectomy—the partial or complete removal of the prostate through surgery.

"Our results show that carnosine has a significant inhibitory effect in vitro on the proliferation of human prostate cancer cell lines," said Dr. Stephanie McArdle.

"While carnosine has previously been shown to have an anti-tumor effect, its potential role in prostate cancer cells specifically was unknown.

[ConservativeMind]

Carnosine is a component of meat and can be bought in supplement form.

[ConservativeMind]

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[jimwatx]

Carnosine is a rather expensive amino acid. Many take the cheaper beta alanine instead which your body converts to carnosine.

Role of beta-alanine supplementation on muscle carnosine and exercise performance
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20479615/

Carnosine and Beta-Alanine Supplementation in Human Medicine: Narrative Review and Critical Assessment
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10096773/

[pangaea6]

It would be interesting to see a graph on prostate cancer or just different types of cancer in meat eaters vs vegans or veggiterians. Funny how beta alanine is named a “non-essential” amino acid when that’s what helps with production of carnosine in our bodies. What about things God created are really non-essential

[usurper]

I received 26 days of external radiation and now they tell me all I needed to do was eat more bacon.

[SharpRightTurn]

I wonder if carnosine might be a candidate for a liposomal delivery system to at least partially offset its rapid degradation.

[grey_whiskers]

Thanks for posting this...!