Insulin may contribute to the growth and proliferation of prostate cancer

Researchers at the Duke Prostate Center believe that insulin and insulin-like growth factor contribute to the growth and proliferation of prostate cancer. Following the conclusion of a recent study, they think that a diet devoid of carbohydrates lowers serum insulin levels in the bodies of the mice, thereby slowing tumour growth.

Stephen Freedland, M.D., a urologist in the Duke Prostate Center and lead investigator on this study, said that previous work here and elsewhere has shown that a diet light in carbohydrates could slow tumour growth, but the animals in those studies also lost weight, and because we know that weight loss can restrict the amount of energy feeding tumours, we weren’t able to tell just how big an impact the pure carbohydrate restriction was having, until now.

The study conclusions appear in the May 26, 2009 online edition of the journal Cancer Prevention Research.