logo
flag   
Responsive Navigation
Keyword Search: in
Prostate Cancer & the Androgen Receptor A Clearer Picture of the Problem
View article disclaimer and terms
Tags: Prostate Cancer, Androgen Receptors, Mens Health

This article has been viewed 6289 times.
Ask us a Question
Name
Email Address
Comments
Code ^

Prostate cancer is the most widely diagnosed cancer in America.  Men have a 17% risk for getting the problem during their lifetime.  The story of any cancer is essentially survival gone wrong, a problem wherein normal cell function is hijacked and turned to cancer.  How this happens varies considerably for any particular type of cancer, although there are a number of common features.  Any man not wanting prostate cancer in the first place or who is treating this problem should spend some time understanding at least the basics of the androgen receptor.

It is difficult for men to understand that when they go through prostate cancer treatment every effort will be made by physicians to wipe out the function of testosterone in their body.  Testosterone is the primary male androgen.  This treatment has the rather undesirable side effect of making a man somewhat "manless," so he can live.  New research on the androgen receptor explains why a lot of prostate cancer treatment is only temporary in nature - as over time malfunctioning androgen receptors manage to switch from androgen-fueled cancer to driving a process that requires no androgen and spreads aggressively. 

The new study shows that androgen receptors can turn on a totally different set of gene signals to fuel aggressive prostate cancer, requiring no androgen at all to perpetuate the process.  If this problem were easy to understand doctors would have solved it long ago.  So let's back up and cover some basics and then I will explain what it all means.

Hormones (which are like managers) require receptors to take their instructions and implement them at the cellular level (receptors are like area supervisors).  How receptors behave determines a lot about your health.  Sure, if a man has too much testosterone it could fuel excess androgen receptor function and cause prostate problems.  On the other hand, low testosterone can also fuel excess androgen receptor activity and prostate cancer, as if area supervisors are clamoring for some management direction which is lacking.

Testosterone is made in the testicles, and converted by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase to the more active metabolite 5-alpha dihydrotestosterone (commonly referred to as DHT).  Testosterone and DHT bind to the androgen receptor, and the DNA in your cells then goes to work following the directions given.

The bottom line question for any man is, "How do I keep my area supervisors doing a good job so that they are giving the right directions to my DNA?"  It appears that these area supervisors have a lot of autonomy, don't always like the directions they are getting from management, and can get rather panicked by problems they think are going on in the workplace. 

In fact, androgen receptors can get conflicting orders from a lot of different areas.  If you would like to review detailed information on how this receptor works click on this link: Review of Androgen Receptor and Prostate Cancer.

In normal health the secretory prostate cells are killed off at the rate of 1%-2% per day, and replaced with new ones.  This activity is part of normal prostate function and is regulated by the androgen receptor.  When the androgen receptor begins to malfunction, which includes becoming hyper-aroused and stressed out, then far more cells are made than are terminated which leads to the beginning of prostate cancer.

One thing the androgen receptor does is stimulate the production of prostate specific androgen (PSA), thus a rising PSA is reflective of over-active androgen receptors - which may or may not reflect prostate cancer activity, but is representative of risk.

Androgen receptor can be turned up by stress hormones, by inflammatory messages coming from stored fat (IL6), by low adiponectin induced by leptin problems and obesity, and by multiple other issues that generally fall under the heading of wear and tear.  Excess IL6 activity is key to over-active androgen receptor function.  Underlying IL6 is the core inflammatory gene, NF-kappaB, which is always over-expressed in advanced prostate cancer. 

Problems with IL6 and NF-kappaB fall under the general heading of too much inflammation and are specifically made worse if you are overweight.  Men who are overweight are twice as likely to die from aggressive prostate cancer if they should get prostate cancer.  The handwriting for almost every man is typically on the wall before a prostate cancer diagnosis.  The underlying mechanisms are now clear.  While medical anti-testosterone treatment can buy you time, it is far better not to get the problem in the first place.  It is likely to ruin your sex life.

Your prostate gland has the poorest circulation to it of any gland or area in your body.  Common sense will tell you that exercise that helps circulation will bring needed oxygen and nutrients to your prostate that help it function normally, whereas a lack of exercise and progressive weight gain are blatant enemies.

Your prostate needs many nutrients for normal function, including zinc, tocotrienol E, fish oil, selenium, lycopene, and cruciferous vegetables.  Nutrients like saw palmetto and quercetin help modulate the function of 5-alpha reductase, which may help dampen androgen receptor activity and reduce prostate swelling and prostate cancer activity.  Both saw palmetto and quercetin have demonstrated anti-prostate cancer activity in cell studies.

In fact, a number of nutrients have been shown to help modulate the activity of the androgen receptor.  For example, the above review study on the androgen receptor states "A number of naturally occurring compounds or their derivatives have been found to regulate androgen receptor bioavailability in prostate cancer cell lines. These compounds include silymarin, vitamin D3, vitamin E derivatives, and polyphenols such as resveratrol and epigallocatechin gallate."

The bottom line is that you have to keep your androgen receptors happy.  That means keeping them cooled off and not letting them get stressed out.  That means taking care of yourself.  Regular exercise, enough sleep, stress managed well, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, losing weight if overweight, and multiple nutrients, as desired.  If you have symptoms of a swollen prostate make it a priority to reduce them.

You really don't want to wake up one day to androgen receptors that are all bent out of shape.




By Byron J. Richards Founder/Director of Wellness Resources, Inc.
All rights reserved. Any reproducing of this article must have the author name and all the links intact.

Author:

Biography: Board-Certified Clinical Nutritionist and a world renowned natural health expert. Richards is the first to explain the relevance of leptin and its link to solving obesity.

ALSO VIEW OUR
Articles
(Total : 160)
  Title
Sort by Title A-Z
Sort by Title Z-A
A Healthy Lymph System is Vital for Flu Fighting Immunity
A Path Back From Addiction & Mental Health Problems
Abnormal Brain Structure in Schizophrenia
ADHD Linked to Early Life Instability & Sleep Problems
Alpha GPC for Focus, Memory, and Cognitive Ability
An Emerging Fiber Breakthrough for Weight Management
Another Thyroid Risk: Did Your Mom Smoke While Pregnant?
Antidepressants Strongly Linked to Heart Disease
Are Vaccinations Causing Early Alzheimer’s?
At What Point Does Pleasure Become Psychopathic?
Avandia is Killing Americans, FDA Negligence Comes Front and Center
BAMLET AND HAMLET – A New Play or a Cure for Cancer?
BDNF Prevents and Reverses Alzheimer’s Disease
Berries for Brain Protection
Big Brother Will Be Watching Your Weight
Big Pharma & Friends Poised for Massive Profits from Health Care Reform
Blood Pressure Therapy Called Into Question
Bone Drugs Cause Serious Atrial Fibrillation
Bone Drugs Proven to Cause Poor Bone Quality in Humans
Bone Health Can Help Prevent Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
Brave Oxford Researchers Say Tamiflu is Not for Kids
Can High Good Cholesterol Be the Sign of a Problem?
Can Vitamin D Help Prevent H1N1 Swine Flu from Spreading?
Candida Problems Evolving
Citizens Win Huge Supreme Court Victory over Big Pharma and the FDA
Coenzyme Q10, Statins, and Heart Health
Cold Weather Mood Shock: Avoid the Winter Blues
Common Phthalate Exposure Linked to ADHD
Common Traits of the Long Lived
Curcumin: Linking Leptin, Obesity, Joint Problems, and Inflammation
Desperate Big Pharma Push to Double Statin Sales
DHA Protects Circulation from Dietary Abuse
DHA vs. Diabetes Drugs – Did You Balance Your PPAR Gamma Today?
DHA, Krill Oil & Green-Lipped Mussel – Which is Best?
DHEA Helps Older Women Build Spinal Bone Density
Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss
Exercise Tips for Fighting the Swine Flu
Fisetin for Neuro-Protection
Fish Oil in the Battle Against Depression & Cognitive Decline
Fish Oil Supplements Reduce Invasive Breast Cancer Risk by 32%
Flawed SELECT Study Attacks Vitamin E
Folic Acid and Vitamin D Help Allergies and Asthma
Friendly Flora Inhibits Bilirubin-Induced Digestive Damage
Friendly Flora Supplements Essential During Pregnancy & Nursing
Gamma Tocotrienol in the War on Cancer
Glial Cell Function Vital for Learning
Glutamine Helps Stomach Ulcers
Grape Seed Extract Restores Insulin Sensitivity
Guar Gum: The Fiber with a Swagger
Hayflick Comments on Aging
Health Costs Relating to Obesity Skyrocket
Health Scandal of the Decade – Monsanto’s GMO Perversion of Food
High Intake of EPA/DHA Reduces Risks for Cardiovascular Disease
High-Fat Diet May Adversely Alter Your Brain Structure
How Bad Fat Programs Future Generations to Be Obese
How Hostile Bacteria Take Up Unwanted Residence
How Imbalanced Digestive Bacteria Cause Obesity & Heart Disease
How PCBs Damage the Developing Brain
How the FDA, Big Pharma, and Doctors Cause Injury for Profit
hyroid Problems, Alzheimer’s, and Cognitive Decline
Immunometabolism: The New Frontier
Introducing the Wellness Resources Daily Prenatal Multi Vitamin
Is Itching a Risk Factor for Cancer?
Is Obama Bailing Out Big Pharma’s Bursting Bubble?
Is There Hope for Glenn Beck’s Eyes?
Jump Start Your Weight Loss in 2009
Laughable Type II Diabetes Research Shines Light on Medical Ineptitude
Leptin Now Directly Linked to the Pleasure of Food & Human Behavior
Low Iron Can Cause Chronic Pain
Low Vitamin C Impairs Early Brain Development
Low Vitamin D Contributes to Thyroid Problems
Mainstream Sounding Alarms on Alternative Thyroid Treatments
Major Blood Pressure Discovery Offers Immediate Solutions
Mass-Produced Meat and Chicken Contaminated with MRSA Superbug
Massive Brain Drugging of Children Now Underway
Maximizing DHA Intake Supports Weight Loss
McCain’s Anti-Supplement Bill Appears Dead – For Now
Michael Jackson is Not Alone
Monsanto’s Toxic and Mutated World – Is Sugar Safe to Eat?
More Proof that Statins Damage Muscles in Many People Taking Them
MRSA Threatens World Health
Natural Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss
New Insights on Addiction, Mood, Memory, and Cognitive Ability
New Science Questions Theory of Antidepressant Drugs
New Strain of Superbug Rapidly Spreading Around the World
Niacin: Can It Help Your Cardio Health?
Niacinamide Turns Out To Be a Potent Candida-Killing Nutrient
Noni as a Natural Immune Booster
Obama Tries to Sneak Major Health Care Reform into the Stimulus Bill
Obesity and the Path to Heart Disease
Obesity Trend Out of Control
Olive Leaf Extract Offsets Stress of High Calorie Intake
Omega 3 Fatty Acids Prevent Serious Mental Health Problems
Omega 3 Oils Slow Aging by Preserving Telomeres
Oprah’s Crazy Talk – Bioidentical Hormones – Helpful or Harmful? (Part 1)
Oprah’s Thyroid Problem Explained
Oprah’s Weight Is National News – Again
Oprah’s “Crazy Talk" – Bioidentical Hormones – Helpful or Harmful? (Part 2)
Overweight People Need Extra Antioxidants for Exercise
Pantethine – Boost Your Brain, Cardio Health, Metabolism, and Detoxification
Paula Deen's Deception for Profit
Poor Response to Exercise in Young Type 2 Diabetics
Potassium Offsets Salt-Induced Cardiovascular Distress
Pregnancy Cautions: Caffeine, Stress, & Depression.
Pregnant Women at Higher Risk for Severe Swine Flu
Prostate Cancer & the Androgen Receptor – A Clearer Picture of the Problem
Prostate Cancer and Zinc – Can Zinc Be Overdone?
Quality Fish Oil
Quercetin as an Anti-Cancer Nutrient
Quercetin Reduces Pain, Anxiety, and Depression
Quercetin: A Rising Star for Nerves, Immunity, and Metabolism
Scientists Document How Coumadin Increases Disease Risk
Sirtuin1 During Calorie Restriction – Application for Weight Management
Six Months of Smoking is Adequate for Significant Brain Damage
Snacking is Damaging Health; Mrs. Obama is Off Target
Startling Evidence of Brain Decay at Age 39
Statin Use Speeds Onset of Coronary Adverse Event Hospitalizations
Statins Impair Immune System Function
Steep Escalation in Minority Obesity and Breast Cancer
Steve Jobs’ Wasting-Away Health Problem
Surprisingly High Cancer Risk from CT Scans
Swine Flu Tip – Don’t Be Your Own Petri Dish
Talk About Pulling The Plug On Grandma
Tamiflu Causes Delirium and Suicide in Children
Tamoxifen Shockingly Found to Cause Aggressive Breast Cancer
Teen Sleep Problems Lead to Depression & Drug Abuse
The Addictive Nature of Compulsive Eating
The Amazing New World of HDL Cholesterol
The Colorful History of Colloidal Silver & Other Silver Compounds
The Effects of Green Tea on Weight Management
The Facts on Magnesium Stearate
The Failure Empire: Bob Greene Rakes It In, Oprah Fails
The FDA’s Peramivir H1N1 Swine Flu Experiment
The Highly Pathogenic E. Coli Genie is Out of the Bottle – Can You Withstand an Attack?
The Narrow Scope of Flu Vaccine Usefulness
The New Flu Vaccine Hype is Over-Rated
The New Role of Glucosamine in Human Health
The Poorly Developing ADHD Brain
The Swine Flu – Are Pigs to Blame?
The Top 10 Health Breakthroughs of 2008
Theanine – A Nutrient for Relaxation
Thyroid, Adrenals, & Immunity – A Clear Path to Surviving Swine Flu
Thyroid-Disrupting Triclosan Jumps Into the Frying Pan
Tips for Cardiovascular Health
Tocotrienols: Twenty Years of Dazzling Cardiovascular and Cancer Research
Top Thyroid Stories of the Past Year
Using Nutrition to Help Perceive and Combat Swine Flu
Utilizing Quality Calcium for Health
Vitamin D is Needed to Fight and Prevent the Flu
Vitamin D – A Gene-Regulating Super Nutrient
Vitamin E Protects Lungs from Damage
Vitamin K Reduces the Risk for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Vitamin K2: Bones, Cardiovascular Health, Blood Sugar Control & Cancer Prevention
Was Giuliana Rancic’s Breast Cancer Caused by IVF?
What Are Your Baby Fat Cells Doing?
What is Leptin?
What is the Leptin Diet?
What’s in Your Multiple Vitamin? Minerals, Detecting Real Quality.
Which Whey to Go
Will Drinking Milk Help You Live Longer?
Products & Equipment
(Total: 66)
  Title
Sort by Title A-Z
Sort by Title Z-A


Contact Form

Please use this form to contact Byron J. Richards
** This form is intended for those with genuine enquiries/questions.
 

Name
Company (if any)
Comments
Email
Phone
  To avoid misuse and spamming, please enter the verification code, shown below, to send your message. Thank you
 
if you can't read the image text to load another one.
Enter Code
 

Disclaimer and Terms. This article is the opinion of the author. WorldwideHealth.com makes no claims regarding this information. WorldwideHealth.com recommends that all medical conditions should be treated by a physician competent in treating that particular condition. WorldwideHealth.com takes no responsibility for customers choosing to treat themselves. Your use of this information is at your own risk. Your use of this information is governed by WWH terms and conditions.