THE EFFECT OF INDOLE-3-CARBINOL AND 3,3’- DIINDOLYLMETHANE ON PROSTATE CANCER: A NARRATIVE REVIEW
การทบทวนวรรณกรรมเรื่องผลของสารประกอบอินโดล-3-คาร์บินอล และ 3,3’-ไดอินโดลิลมีเทนต่อมะเร็งต่อมลูกหมาก
Keywords:
Prostate cancer, Indole-3-carbinol, 3,3’-diindolylmethaneAbstract
The high incidence of prostate cancer in the general population constitutes a significant problem. Currently, conventional treatments are limited by both adverse effects and drug resistance, driving interest in the use of natural compounds as adjuncts to enhance therapeutic efficacy. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and its major metabolite, 3,3’-diindolylmethane (DIM), which are commonly found in cruciferous vegetables, have attracted considerable attention for their prostate cancer-suppressing effects.
Evidence from preclinical studies indicates that DIM exerts multi-targeted anticancer effects by inhibiting growth, inducing cancer cell apoptosis, regulating the cell cycle, suppressing metastasis, and interfering with key signaling pathways—such as the androgen receptor (AR), NF-B, and Akt/mTOR—as well as modulating epigenetic mechanisms. Meanwhile, early-phase clinical studies suggest that DIM has high safety and is well tolerated by patients, demonstrating altered biomarkers including the nuclear exclusion of AR, along with pathological changes, namely prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) regression. However, no clear reduction in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels has been observed. Importantly, no severe toxicity has been reported.
In conclusion, 3,3’-diindolylmethane (DIM) demonstrates potential as an adjunctive therapeutic agent for prostate cancer. Nevertheless, large-scale, randomized controlled clinical trials remain necessary to confirm its clinical efficacy and practical applicability.
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