Biological effects of two tomatoes lipophilic extracts on breast cancer cell lines and molecular pathway involved

Breast cancer is the most frequent type of cancer in women. Recent data suggest that lifestyle factors including dietary factors play a significant role in breast cancerdevelopment and survival.Current knowledge suggests that a healthy/Mediterranean-like diet characterized by high intake of fruit, vegetables, fiber, fish and unsaturated oils, particularly n-3 fatty acids, has a protective effect on breast cancer, whereas a typical Western diet characterized by high intake of total/saturated fat, refined carbohydrates, processed and red meat and low fiber intake is associated with poorer outcome. Tomatoes are of specific interest because they are key elements of the Mediterranean diet. Moreover, they are relatively cheap and easy to store, and also because they are the main source of phytochemicals with strong antioxidant properties. Whole tomato as a food with potential anticancer properties has not been extensively evaluated so far, because greater attention has been given to single antioxidant compounds, such as lycopene, β-carotene, etc. Here we presented our results on a possible antineoplastic role of tomatoes without significantly affecting non-tumor cells(primary human skin fibroblasts). We used total lipophilc tomato extracts of two Southern Italy cultivars, San Marzano and Corbarino, which better mimics tomato intake by diet, without isolating antioxidants, or vitamins, as often reported in the literature. We chose in vitro models of breast cancer, because much of lycopene accumulates in breast, an organ consists mainly of adipose tissue.