According to the American Cancer Society, it is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men in the U.S., after lung cancer. About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Many cases are treatable, but some do not respond to treatment. However, a new study suggests that a vitamin K precursor might slow prostate cancer growth.
A New Study on Vitamin K and Cancer
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have found that menadione, a compound found in leafy greens, can slow prostate cancer growth in mice. Professor Lloyd Trotman and his team discovered that this pro-oxidant supplement interferes with cancer cell survival. This research builds on an earlier study from the early 2000s.
Past Studies on Vitamin E
In 2001, the National Cancer Institute launched a trial to test if vitamin E could help prevent prostate cancer. The study involved 35,000 men and was meant to last 12 years. However, after just three years, the trial was stopped. The results showed that vitamin E did not prevent prostate cancer—instead, more men developed the disease.
The New Research with Mice
After seeing the vitamin E study’s failure, Professor Trotman wondered if a pro-oxidant would work instead. His study in mice confirmed his theory. When mice with prostate cancer were given menadione, it disrupted cancer cells by eliminating a lipid called PI(3)P. Without this lipid, the cancer cells struggled to survive.
Hope for Human Trials
The next step is to see if this works in humans. Trotman and his team plan to test menadione in men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer. He hopes that by taking the supplement, these men might slow the disease’s progression.
An unexpected finding was that menadione also helped treat myotubular myopathy, a rare disease affecting muscle growth in baby boys. In mice with this condition, the supplement doubled their lifespan.
The Future of Vitamin K in Cancer Treatment
Although this research is still in the early stages, the results are promising. If the findings hold up in human studies, this could improve the lives of millions of men diagnosed with prostate cancer.
