Preventive and therapeutic effects of tomato juice on the growth of fibrosarcoma tumor cells in Balb/c mice

Fibrosarcoma is a tumor with mesenchymal cell origin that is composed of malignant fibroblastic cell in a collagen background. Specific treatments for fibrosarcoma, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery have many complications for patients. Anti-tumor properties of lycopene have been proved in some types of cancers. In this study we aimed to carry out a research to investigate the effect of tomato extract on the growth of WEHI-164 fibrosarcoma cell in Balb/c mice. Three groups of 10 male Balb/c mice at 8 weeks of age were selected. All three groups were subcutaneously injected with 500000 WEHI-164 tumor cells on day zero in the chest area of the animals. Mice in prevention group were given tomato juice orally, 5 mg/mouse/day for a period of 4 weeks (2 weeks before and 2 week after tumor cell injection). In treatment group, animals were given tomato extract from the day of tumor cell injection (day 0) to two weeks after. Control group did not receive tomato extract. In every individual mouse, the tumor size was measured every 2 days from day 10 (days 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22). Data were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. The tumor area in control group were significantly larger than two case groups (P<0.05). No significant difference was shown between prevention and treatment groups (P>0.05). With emphasize on anti-tumor effect of tomato, it seems that tomato extract has important role in prevention and control of fibrosarcoma. Since we did not find any differences between treatment and prevention groups to control fibrosarcoma, we recommend further study with different doses of tomato and other types of cancers.