Epidemiological as well as in vitro studies generally support a beneficial effect for consumption of fruits and vegetables in preventing prostate cancer. This leads to the hypothesis that phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables may contribute to cancer prevention. Resveratrol has been proposed as a prostate cancer preventive candidate. However, relatively little is known of the molecular targets in prostate as well as mechanisms may contribute to prevent prostate cancer. This thesis attempted to elucidate the molecular effects and the mechanisms of resveratrol underlying the prostate cancer preventive effect.

Our results indicated resveratrol exerts inhibitory effects on the growth of androgen-responsive human prostate cancer cell, LNCaP. At the molecular level, we found resveratrol inhibited androgen-responsive genes through both androgen- and estrogen-mediated events. Moreover, resveratrol regulates the IGF-1 pathway through regulation of androgen- and estrogen-mediated events. These results provide the molecular basis to support the potential prostate cancer preventive effect of resveratrol.