Lycopene is a nutraceutical with health-promoting and anti-
cancer activities, but due to a lack of evidence, there are no recommendations regarding its use and dosage. This review aimed to evaluate the benefits of
lycopene supplementation in
cancer prevention and treatment based on the results of in vivo studies. We identified 72 human and animal studies that were then analysed for endpoints such as
cancer incidence, improvement in treatment outcomes, and the mechanisms of
lycopene action. We concluded that the results of most of the reviewed in vivo studies confirmed the anti-
cancer activities of
lycopene. Most of the studies concerned
prostate cancer, reflecting the number of in vitro studies. The reported mechanisms of
lycopene action in vivo included regulation of oxidative and inflammatory processes, induction of apoptosis, and inhibition of cell division, angiogenesis, and
metastasis formation. The predominance of particular mechanisms seemed to depend on tumour organ localisation and the local storage capacity of
lycopene. Finally, there is a need to look for predictive factors to identify a population that may benefit from
lycopene supplementation. The potential candidates appear to be race, single nucleotide polymorphisms in
carotene-cleaving
enzymes, some genetic abbreviations, and
insulin-like growth factor-dependent and inflammatory diseases.