Low-Fat, High-Fiber Diet Compared to a Standard Diet in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer

RATIONALE: A low-fat, high-fiber diet may slow the growth of prostate cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized phase II trial to compare the effectiveness of a low-fat, high-fiber diet with that of a standard diet in treating patients who have prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Compare the inhibition of growth of human prostate cancer cell lines by serum from patients with prostate cancer before and after being fed a low fat, high fiber diet. Determine the underlying mechanism through which a low fat, high fiber diet affects the growth of prostate cancer cell lines. Determine whether a low fat, high fiber diet inhibits the growth of prostate cancer cell lines through androgen-dependent and/or androgen- independent mechanisms in these patients. Determine the growth factors, hormones, and/or binding proteins that may be responsible for affecting the growth of prostate cancer cell lines in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. Arm I: Patients receive a low fat, high fiber diet daily for 3 weeks. Arm II: Patients receive a control diet containing the standard amounts of fat and fiber. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 40 patients (20 per arm) will be accrued for this study within 6 months.

adenocarcinoma of the prostate, stage I prostate cancer, stage IIB prostate cancer, stage IIA prostate cancer, stage III prostate cancer, stage IV prostate cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the prostate Previously untreated and on watchful waiting Medically able to receive dietary intervention PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 40 to 80 Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Other: Must be willing to travel to UCLA 3 days a week for 4 weeks to obtain specially prepared foods PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: Not specified Endocrine therapy: No concurrent luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists (leuprolide or goserelin) No concurrent androgen-receptor blocking agents (flutamide or bicalutamide) No concurrent testosterone No concurrent insulin No concurrent finasteride Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: No prior orchiectomy Other: No concurrent saw palmetto supplement

Aronson WJ, Barnard RJ, Freedland SJ, Henning S, Elashoff D, Jardack PM, Cohen P, Heber D, Kobayashi N. Growth inhibitory effect of low fat diet on prostate cancer cells: results of a prospective, randomized dietary intervention trial in men with prostate cancer. J Urol. 2010 Jan;183(1):345-50. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2009.08.104.