Prostate Cancer Awareness Week
(pcaw.org) has compiled newsbytes on the prostate. Prostate Cancer
Awareness Month is September, and Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, the
period set aside for free or low-cost screenings, runs September
13-19, 2004. Information about the Prostate is added weekly.
Disclaimer
Newsbytes
Herbs That Fight Prostate Cancer
A mixture of 10 herbs -- available commercially -- has been shown to
fight prostate cancer in the test tube. Read on to get the full list
of ingredients and to learn why they're important for men with high
PSA levels and/or a family history of the disease.
Source: my.webmd.com/content/article/56/65833.htm
Emperor Akihito Diagnosed With Prostate
Cancer -
Emperor Akihito has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and will
undergo surgery next month, Japan's Imperial Household Agency
announced
Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/342/359599.html
New Program Matches Newly Diagnosed with
Survivors
The American Cancer Society has launched a new program, "One to One"
in Collier County, FL. The program matches men newly diagnosed with
prostate cancer with other prostate cancer survivors who can provide
guidance. 
Source: cfapps.naplesnews.com/sendlink/printthis.cfm
Disability Benefit comes at
Expense of Pension for Veterans
When a veteran is granted disability compensation, his pension is
reduced by the same amount. Veterans groups are working to change
this government policy.
Source: www.daily-journal.com/content/?id=15759
Combining Therapies when Hormone
Therapy Doesn't Work
Combination therapy in treating patients with advanced prostate
cancer that has not responded to hormone therapy.
Source: cfapps.naplesnews.com/sendlink/printthis.cfm
Hormone Therapy Following
Radical Prostatectomy
Hormone therapy with or without mitoxantrone and prednisone in
treating patients who have undergone radical prostatectomy for
prostate cancer.
Source: www.hopelink.com/search/locations.jsp?t=0_0_19338&cs=n&p=0_0_19
Combining Chemotherapy Followed by
Surgery
Combination chemotherapy followed by surgery in treating patients
with localized prostate cancer.
Source: www.hopelink.com/search/locations.jsp?t=0_0_19746&cs=n&p=0_0_19
For Patients with
Poor Prognosis Locally Advanced PC
Phase II study of neoadjuvant paclitaxel, estramustine, carboplatin,
and androgen ablation followed by radiotherapy in patients with
poor-prognosis locally advanced prostate cancer.
Source: www.hopelink.com/search/locations.jsp?t=0_0_19694&cs=n&p=0_0_19
Incontinence Websites Provide Guidance
Incontinence, a possible side effect of prostate cancer treatment,
can be controlled and helped. The Virginia
Urology Center
provides information on the different types of incontinence and how
to alleviate them. Incontinent.com, which is run by a manufacturer of
generic incontinence products, explains the different products
available, including pads, shields, and fitted briefs.
Source: www.uro.com/incontinence.htm
Prostate Specific Antigen Bounce
Phenomenon
Prostate specific antigen bounce phenomenon after external beam
radiation for clinically localized prostate cancer.
Source: www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/PaperFrameSet?OpenForm&newsid=8525697700573E1885256C5D001ECEA9&topabstract=1&u=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12394695&dopt=Abstract
Neoadjuvant therapy
Neoadjuvant therapy before radical prostatectomy for clinical T3/T4
carcinoma of the prostate: 5-year followup, Phase II Southwest
Oncology Group study 9109.
Source: www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/PaperFrameSet?OpenForm&newsid=8525697700573E1885256C5D001ECAC1&topabstract=1&u=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12394698&dopt=Abstract
Prevention of Cancer in the Older
Person
Both primary and secondary cancer prevention may improve cancer
control among older persons. Although chemoprevention of cancer is
feasible, the agents currently used for chemoprevention have several
complications. As a result, the use of these substances should be
individualized based on risk-benefit ratio. It is reasonable to
implement screening for cancer of the breast and of the large bowel
in persons with a life expectancy of 5 years and longer. No definite
recommendation may be issued at present related to screening for
prostate, lung, and cervical cancer. Ongoing clinical trials may
answer some of these questions.
Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12424870&dopt=Abstract
PSP94
Prostate targeting: PSP94 gene promoter/enhancer region directed
prostate tissue-specific expression in a transgenic mouse prostate
cancer model.
Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12424611&dopt=Abstract
Flaxseed helps mice with prostate
cancer
A diet rich in flaxseed seems to block the growth and development of
prostate cancer in mice, claims a Duke University study printed in
the November issue of the journal Urology. HealthScoutNews, November
12.
Source: story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=97&ncid=97&e=3&u=/hsn/20021112/hl_hsn/flaxseed_helps_mice_with_prostate_cancer
Breast Gene Fault Increases Prostate Cancer
Risk
A genetic fault that makes women more susceptible to breast and
ovarian cancer also raises a man's risk of developing prostate
cancer, a British scientist said Wednesday. Dr. Ros Eeles, a medical
geneticist at The Institute of Cancer Research in southern, England,
told a medical conference that men with an inherited defect in the
BRCA 2 gene have a five-to-seven fold increased risk of prostate
cancer than those without the fault. She announced plans to launch a
European-wide study of 500 men who have four or more close relatives
who have developed breast cancer before the age of 60. They may have
inherited the mutation and would be more likely to develop prostate
cancer. "We are trying to see if you can identify a high-risk group
(of men) that you can target for screening," Eeles told the first
annual meeting of the medical charity Cancer Research UK. Forty
percent of early onset, aggressive prostate cancers are linked to
inherited factors. Some are due to alterations in the BRCA 2 gene,
according to Eeles. The trial, which is due to begin in December or
January, will be the among the first to use genetic screening to
target men in this way. "The crucial thing about screening for
prostate cancer is to identify those men with a high risk of an
aggressive form of the disease," Eeles added.
Sources: story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=570&u=/nm/20021030/sc_nm/health_cancer_prostate_dc_1
and
www.hopkinsprostate.com/html/pbHeadlines.html
Three Prostate Cancer Monotherapies Provide
Equivalent Relapse-Free Survival
Three monotherapies for treating T1/T2 adenocarcinoma of the prostate
provide similar rates of five-year biochemical relapse-free survival,
suggesting that side effects, not efficacy, should be the main
consideration in selecting a therapy. Dr. Louis Potters, chief of
radiation oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's Mercy
Hospital, New York, United States, and colleagues presented their
findings Sunday at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and
Oncology (ASTRO) 44th Annual Meeting, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The
researchers reviewed the biochemical relapse-free survival in 1,866
consecutive patients receiving permanent seed implantation (PI),
external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) to a minimum 70 Gy, or radical
prostatectomy (RP). All patients had clinically localized stage T1/T2
prostate cancer treated between 1992 and 1998. Three and forty eight
of the patients were treated with EBRT, 783 were treated with RP, and
735 were treated PI. Over 90 percent of the patients in each
treatment group were stage T1-T2a, and the rest were T2b. About
three-fourths of the patients in each treatment group had an initial
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 10 ng/ml or less and a
Gleason score of six or less. Median follow-up time was 54 months for
all cases. Biochemical relapse was defined as any detectable PSA
value greater than 0.2 ng/ml for patients receiving RP, or three
consecutive PSA value rises for those receiving EBRT or PI. The
5-year biochemical relapse-free survival rates for cases treated with
PI, EBRT, and RP were 82 percent, 77 percent, and 83 percent,
respectively (p=0.082); the 7-year biochemical relapse-free survival
rates were 74 percent, 77 percent and 79 percent, respectively.
Multivariate analysis identified initial PSA (p<0.001), Gleason
score (p<0.001), and clinical T stage (p=0.035) as independent
predictors of biochemical relapse-free survival. In contrast,
treatment modality, age, and race were not predictors. "We are
encouraged that our results confirmed that of these others mined only
monotherapy so that the results are unencumbered by adjuvant
therapies such as hormones or the addition of radiation," he added.
Dr. Potters continued to say that the treatment decision for a man
with prostate cancer may be better based on side effects rather than
that of biochemical outcome. "Further, the results imply excellent
biochemical control regardless of which therapy is chosen," he
added.
Source: www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/NewsPrint/8525697700573E1885256C4D00767AED
Man's Migraine Linked to Soy
Consumption
A man who increased his soy intake hoping to relieve discomfort from
his ailing prostate developed migraine headaches, according to a new
report. As people age they become less likely to have migraines, and
new-onset migraine in older people is particularly rare, according to
Dr. Peter Engel of Albany Medical College in New York. He reports the
case of a 57-year-old man who mysteriously developed migraine with
aura in the October issue of Neurology.
Source: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_10050.html
Korean Red Ginseng May Treat
Impotence
Korean red ginseng, a herb considered an aphrodisiac in some Asian
countries, seems to be an effective treatment for erectile
dysfunction, according to the results of a small study from
Korea.
Source: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_10031.html
Cancer Test Shows 100% Sensitivity and
Specificity
The results of multisite clinical trials have shown that a new blood
test for cancer detection, based on molecular fingerprinting,
correctly identified 177 patients known to have lung, breast,
gastrointestinal, or prostate cancer; and also correctly ruled out
cancer in each of the 72 control patients. The data were presented at
Karolinska Institute (Solna, Sweden) by Dr. Toomas Neuman, chief
scientific officer of CeMines, Inc. (Evergreen, CO, USA), which
developed the test. Based on the data, Karolinska has initiated a
4,500 patient study of the cancer-detection technology. CeMines
noninvasive molecular fingerprinting technology is extremely
promising, and the idea behind this approach is brilliant, said Dr.
Madis Metsis, principal investigator of the study now under way at
Karolinska. The next step will be systematic and well-defined
analyses of tumors in order to reach the ultimate goal of molecular
fingerprinting--deciphering the molecular structure of individual
tumors that will help us design specific diagnostic methods and drugs
to treat cancer.
Reduced risk of prostate cancer among
patients with diabetes mellitus
Although diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of
several malignancies, a negative association with prostate cancer is
biologically most plausible. The epidemiologic evidence is, however,
inconsistent, limited and based mostly on small studies. We present
results from a large, population-based cohort study in Sweden, where
we assessed prostate cancer risk among patients hospitalized for
diabetes mellitus. We found no consistent trends in risk related to
age at first hospitalization or to duration of follow-up. We did find
a small, but significantly decreased risk of prostate cancer among
men who had been hospitalized for diabetes mellitus.
Source: Int J Cancer 2002 Nov 20;102(3):258-61,
Weiderpass E, Ye W, Vainio H, Kaaks R, Adami HO. Abstract:
Medarex Initiates Phase II Clinical Trials of
MDX-010 for Metastatic Melanoma and Prostate Cancer
Medarex, Inc. (Nasdaq: MEDX) today announced the initiation of two
Phase II clinical trials of MDX-010, one in patients with metastatic
melanoma and one in patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer.
The two randomized, multi-dose Phase II studies are designed to
assess the potential anti-tumor activity of MDX-010. The metastatic
melanoma Phase II trial will study MDX-010 both as a single agent and
in combination with DTIC (dacarbazine). The trial is expected to
initially accrue a total of 46 chemotherapy naive patients with
metastatic disease. MDX-010 will be given in a regimen of four
monthly intravenous infusions of 3.0 mg/kg alone or in combination
with DTIC. Patients will be followed until tumor progression and will
be evaluated based on objective tumor responses. Information For
further information regarding MDX-010 and clinical trial information,
please send an e-mail to information@medarex.com
Clinical results on high intensity
focused ultrasound presented at congresses
EDAP TMS S.A., a global leader in the development, marketing, and
distribution of a portfolio of minimally invasive medical devices for
the treatment of urological diseases, announced that its High
Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) subsidiary, EDAP S.A.,
participated in three international congresses. The third congress,
the World Congress on Endourology (WCE), was held in Genoa, Italy.
HIFU technology, applied to the treatment of localized prostate
cancer, is being included in the official program. Lectures were
given by two Ablatherm users during plenary and main sessions, in
addition to the five posters the company had accepted.
AVI's Combination Antisense Strategy Inhibits
Tumor Growth In Human Prostate Cancer Models
AVI BioPharma, Inc. announced a novel combination strategy in
treating advanced stage hormone-refractory prostate cancer using
AVI's NEUGENE(R) antisense. The strategy, tested in preclinical
research, is explained in the November issue of The Prostate,
53(3): 200-10. AVI scientists used NEUGENE antisense to target both
the c-myc gene and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormonal
growth factor, both of which have been implicated in the growth of
prostate cancer. NEUGENE antisense inhibition of hCG and c-myc in
combination caused a significant reduction of growth of human
prostate cancer cells in cultures. In addition, this combination
antisense therapy also inhibited growth of tumors transplanted to
susceptible mice.
Post-Treatment Impotence
Widespread
Few aspects of prostate cancer treatment arouse as much confusion --
or controversy -- as the rates of sexual dysfunction after various
therapies. The results of a large federally funded study published
this month in the journal Cancer are certain to fuel the
debate about the sexual side effects of surgery and radiation. The
study of more than 1,200 men treated at the Cleveland Clinic between
1992 and 1999 paints a bleak portrait, concluding that "the great
majority of men . . . do not achieve a return to functional sexual
activity."
Source: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24646-2002Oct26.html
Online Insight for Men Who've Had a
Prostatectomy
There's a new online calculator that helps forecast the future health
of men who have had radical prostatectomy to treat localized prostate
cancer. The calculator predicts the likelihood of a man's level of
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) remaining low seven years after
removal of the prostate gland. About 30 percent to 40 percent of men
who have a prostatectomy experience an increase in their PSA level.
That may indicate a recurrence of prostate cancer within five to 10
years after the surgery.
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
Vitamin D for Prostate Cancer
Though studies are not conclusive, researchers say vitamin D
deficiency may play a role as a potential risk factor for prostate
cancer. In fact, massive doses of the vitamin may help treat the
disease. In a study out of Oregon Health & Science University, 25
percent of patients showed dramatic drops in their PSA levels. Most
had their levels drop by 50 percent. Oncologist Tomasz Beer, M.D.,
tells Ivanhoe, "Taxotere alone works in about 40 percent of patients,
we saw over 80 percent of patients respond to the combination, so
we're very encouraged by those earlier results." In the next phase of
the study, researchers are recruiting more than 200 patients at about
20 medical centers in the United States.
Source: www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=4686
Cancer Therapy Causes Devastating Oral
Complications
More than one million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in the
upcoming year, and approximately 40 percent, or 500,000, will develop
serious oral complications as the result of their treatment. Although
cancer therapies such as radiation, chemotherapy and bone marrow
transplantation have become more powerful and therapeutically
successful over the past 10 years, the cancer-fighting treatments
affect healthy tissues as well. The mouth is a frequent site of acute
and chronic side effects which can diminish quality of life for
cancer patients and negatively affect treatment.
Source: www.agd.org/consumer/topics/oralcomplications/main.html
Herbal Extract May Compromise Prostate
Cancer Chemotherapy Drug
PC-SPES, a dietary supplement taken by some men as a treatment for
prostate cancer, may compromise the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic
agents, such as paclitaxel, by interfering with microtubule
polymerization, according to a study in the November 6 issue of the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute,
www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/EMIHC000/333/333/357699.html
Biphosphonate Reduces Bone
Complications From Spread Of Prostate Cancer
In patients with advanced prostate cancer, the disease often spreads
to the bone, causing pain, fractures, and spinal cord
compression.
Source: Journal of the National Cancer
Institute, www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/EMIHC000/333/333/356115.html
Researchers Find Gene That May Signal Deadly
Form Of Prostate Cancer
In a discovery that could someday help guide treatment of men
suffering from early stages of prostate cancer, researchers studying
DNA in tumors say they have found a gene that predicts whether the
cancer will develop into its most lethal form.
Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/EMIHC000/333/333/356418.html
Heart Disease Gene Linked to
Prostate Cancer
Researchers at Johns Hopkins, Wake Forest, and The National Human
Genome Research Institute have implicated mutations in a "heart
disease gene" in hereditary prostate cancer. The findings, which
offer new evidence that at least some cases of prostate cancer may
begin with an infection and inflammatory response, were published
online September 16, 2002, in Nature Genetics.
Sources: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
, http://urology.jhmi.edu
,
www.hopkinskimmelcancercenter.org
Wake Forest-John Hopkins Team Discovers
Prostate Cancer Gene
Scientists have discovered a gene that "may play an important role in
prostate cancer susceptibility in both African-American men and men
of European descent."
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
Novel Gene Product Facilitates Suicide
Gene Tracking in Male Cancers
Medical researchers at the University of California School of
Medicine in Los Angeles have discovered a novel gene product that
enables doctors to track prostate cancer suicide gene therapy with a
noninvasive imaging technique.
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
Casodex Reduces Disease, Tumor
Progressions
The first major publication of the overall results from the world's
largest prostate cancer treatment program shows that addition of
Casodex (bicalutamide) to standard care cuts the risk of tumor
progression by almost a half.
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
Dietary Change May Prevent Disease
Progression
A fat-laden diet and high calcium consumption are both well-known
suspected risk factors for prostate cancer. However, new findings
from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center suggest that fat and
calcium themselves may not cause prostate cancer, as previously
thought, but instead may fuel its progression from localized to
advanced disease.
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
Tackle Prostate Cancer
The Prostate Cancer Education Council (PCEC) and the National
Football League are joining forces for a second year to "Tackle
Prostate Cancer."
Prostate Cancer Awareness Week will be held September 15-21, 2002
at hundreds of sites across the country. That week free and low-cost
prostate cancer screenings will be held at hospitals, clinics, health
care centers, and private physicians' offices. The NFL will be
publicizing the Week through a variety of media efforts For more
information, visit
Source: www.pcaw.com/PDF/NFL_PSA.pdf
Louise Hay on the Prostate and Prostate
Cancer
Louise Hay, in her book Heal
Your Body, says that the prostate "Represents the masculine
principle." And, to be healthy, one need "accept and rejoice in
his masculinity." Where prostate problems come in is with one of the
following beliefs: "Mental fears weaken the masculinity. Giving
up. Sexual pressure and guilt. Belief in aging." To clear this
dis-ease up requires one to truely believe one or more of the
following new thought patterns: I love and approve of
myself. I accept my own power. I am forever young in
spirit."
Free or Low-Cost cPSA Tests During Prostate
Cancer Awareness Week
Recent research shows that the use of the complexed prostate specific
antigen (cPSA) test results in fewer false indications of prostate
cancer than the traditional PSA test and could help avoid more than
44,000 unnecessary biopsies each year in the U.S. Men being screened
during the 14th annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (PCAW),
September 15-21, will have access to this additional form of the
standard PSA blood test. During PCAW, more than 500 hospitals,
clinics and private physicians will provide free or low-cost
screenings to more than 100,000 men nationwide.
Prostate specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the cells
in the prostate, has proven to be a useful marker for early detection
of prostate cancer and in monitoring patients for disease progression
and the effects of treatment. However, current PSA testing generates
up to 60% "false positives" because PSA levels can also increase due
to non-cancerous conditions of the prostate which are increasingly
common as men get older. It can also generate "false negatives" since
a significant number of cases of prostate cancer have been found in
men whose PSA was "normal." Much research has focused on ways to
improve the accuracy of PSA testing, and cPSA offers a new weapon in
the fight against prostate cancer.
Source: 209.35.73.106/pcaw/screening.asp
Golfer Bruce Fleisher Glad He Took
Advantage of free PSA Test
Criticized by Hale Irwin and Tom Kite for withdrawing from the U.S.
Open, Bruce Fleisher can live with his decision.
As it turned out, by not playing at Bethpage and then competing in
the BellSouth Senior Classic in Nashville, Fleisher took advantage of
a free physical exam at the tournament. The test revealed a high PSA
(prostate specific antigen) number, three times higher than last
year, which could indicate the presence of prostate cancer. Fleisher
soon will undergo more tests.
"If I had not come here and done the exam, I probably would not
have done it again until next year," Fleisher said, "and who knows
what would have happened?"
Fleisher is the U.S. Senior Open champion, and Irwin and Kite said
he should have represented the Senior Tour at Bethpage. But Fleisher
disagreed.
"It's not copping out," Fleisher said. "I think Tom Kite and Hale
Irwin gave an excellent representation of the Senior Tour, if that's
what they want. Some guys call it ego. I call it very sensible."
Prostate Surgery Preserves Potency, But
HMOs Are Putting Up Barriers
People contract with HMOs knowing that they are more restrictive than
other forms of insurance. But whether an HMO meets its contractual
obligations if its network doctors can't come close to matching the
results of other surgeons is a tough question to answer "There is no
legal or contractual requirement that the Health Plan send their
members to an academic medical center or to an out-of-plan physician
who has performed more procedures than a qualified physician,"
Source: ustoo.org/WSJ061902.pdf
Into the Light - Survivors' groups and
researchers raising awareness of prostate cancer
What a man doesn't know could hurt him. When it comes to prostate
cancer, the No. 1 nonskin cancer among men, ignorance can be deadly.
That's why so many survivors are working to push this stigmatized and
misunderstood disease into the public consciousness.
Source: www.journalnow.com/wsj/living/MGBZZ5U1L2D.html
An Update On Brachytherapy
There's a new Web site for people interested in learning more about
brachytherapy, an internal radiation treatment for different kinds of
cancer. Brachytherapy has been used for decades and involves planting
of radioactive "seeds" inside the cancerous tissue to attack the
cancer. The treatment often has fewer and less severe side effects
than other therapies, according to the American Brachytherapy Society
(ABS). Currently, brachytherapy is used primarily to treat prostate,
breast and cervical cancers. Other methods of treating these cancers
include surgery, chemotherapy and external beam radiation therapies.
To see the site, go to the
Source: American Brachytherapy Society,
www.americanbrachytherapy.org
A patient's view
Hal Ackerman's graphic account of his encounter with prostate cancer
in My Generation ($2.95) may make some men cringe, but it also may
send them to their doctor for an exam. Ackerman, 50, opted for
hormone-deprivation therapy _ ``chemical castration'' _ instead of
surgery. ``Not only is the sex drive gone,'' he writes, ``but the
desire for the sex drive is gone. Women whose bodies in the past
would have stimulated longing and desire now generate no more
response than the sight of uncovered furniture.'' That's the
downside. The upside is that Ackerman has been cancer-free for more
than a year after subsequent radiation treatment.
Vasectomy Link to
Prostate Cancer Dismissed
Dr Brian Cox and colleagues from Dunedin School of Medicine,
Wellington School of Medicine and the University of Otago in New
Zealand looked at more than 2,000 men, almost half of whom were newly
diagnosed prostate cancer patients, to examine whether a link between
this cancer and vasectomy existed. New Zealand was considered to be
an ideal country in which to conduct the investigation because of its
high incidence of vasectomy and its mandatory policy on cancer
reporting. The men, aged between 40 and 74, had all been married at
some time and were interviewed via telephone about previous
illnesses, vasectomies, smoking and alcohol consumption, prostate
specific antigen testing, rectal examination, previous urological
symptoms, family history of cancer and socio-demographic
characteristics. The researchers found that there was no increased
risk of the disease among men who had undergone a vasectomy 25 or
more years before they were interviewed. Furthermore, vasectomy
carried no greater risk of prostate cancer, even after adjusting for
social class, geographic location, religion and family history.
"Since vasectomy is so common in New Zealand and all new prostate
cancers there must be reported to its National Cancer Registry,
that's where you would expect to find a link between the two if one
exists," said Dr Steven Kaufman of the National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development's Contraception and Reproductive Health
Branch. He added, "Also, although the study was more than large
enough to detect an increased prostate cancer risk associated with
vasectomy, none was found." The findings appear in the Journal of the
American Medical Association
Modified tomato may protect against
cancer
Scientists in the US have modified a tomato genetically so that it
contains higher than normal levels of a chemical that may offer
protection against cancer. It was developed at Purdue University in
Indiana by accident as scientists sought higher quality strains of
the fruit. Tomatoes contain various antioxidants, including lycopene,
which is associated with reduced cancer risk. The new strain, which
is modified with a yeast-derived gene, contains between two and
three-and-a-half times the lycopene of the average tomato.
Source: news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_2054000/2054381.stm
Return of Prostate Cancer First Seen by MRI,
Not Biopsy
A study has found that dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can
detect prostate cancer recurrence even before it can be detected by
biopsy. The finding was presented at the annual meeting of the
American Roentgen Ray Society in Atlanta (GA, USA). The study,
conducted by researchers at Sapporo Medical University (Sapporo,
Japan), involved 21 patients who had a rising prostate-specific
antigen (PSA) level following radical prostatectomy. All patients had
an ultrasound-guided biopsy that came back negative, but the MR
images in 17 of the 21 patients indicated local recurrence.
Additional biopsies to confirm recurrence would have wasted precious
time, during which patient PSA levels would have continued to rise.
Therefore, the researchers conclude that prostate cancer patients
with a rising PSA following prostatectomy should first have an MRI to
determine if their cancer has returned. "MR is allowing us to detect
the recurrence earlier, when the cancer can be more effectively
treated with radiation therapy," says Miki Takeda, M.D., the lead
author of the study. In fact, 15 of the 17 patients in the study were
treated with radiation therapy, and seven are now considered cancer
free. "Dynamic MR imaging contributed to these results," adds Dr.
Takeda
Prostate Cancer Cell Growth Inhibited by
Red Wine
Studies have suggested that environmental and dietary factors have an
important influence on the development of prostate cancer, as
witnessed by the higher rate of the malignancy among Japanese men
living in the US compared to those in Japan. Mediterranean countries,
where red wine is commonly consumed, have lower rates of prostate
cancer than other western countries. Dr I Romero and colleagues from
Getafe University Medical Centre in Spain investigated five
polyphenols - quercetin, morin, rutin, gallic acid and tannic acid -
found in red wine to determine whether they exerted an effect on the
growth of the LNCaP cell line. LNCaP cells were obtained and cultured
in vitro before each of the five polyphenols was added to separate
dishes and incubated for 96 hours. Rates of proliferation and
apoptosis were assessed using colorimetric and cell-death detection
assays, respectively. The cultures were sampled at 24, 48 and 72
hours, and cell proliferation was also assessed after 96 hours. The
researchers found that 5 and 10mol/l of gallic and tannic acid and
quercetin, and 50 and 75mol/l of morin and rutin, all significantly
reduced rates of cell proliferation compared to control plates. Rates
of apoptosis inhibition varied between polyphenols, with gallic acid,
tannic acid and rutin bringing about significantly greater rates of
cell death compared to controls. The effects of morin were only
observed at 72 hours, and those of quercetin within the first 48
hours. Dr Romero and colleagues conclude that these polyphenols,
which are always present in red wine, significantly inhibit prostate
cell proliferation and activate apoptosis. Writing in the BJU
International, they add, "These results provide a rationale for
studying the in-vivo effects of these nutrients, with the potential
for formulating future recommendations about the intake of these
substances as chemopreventive agents." Reference: Romero et al, BJU
International 2002; 89:950-954
Cancer's Effect on Relationships under
Scrutiny
The study, funded by Cancer Research UK and led by specialist cancer
nurse Lynne Colbourne, will involve 30 patients with either prostate
or testicular cancer and their partners. Ms Colbourne will follow the
couples from diagnosis and assess how survivors feel their lives
changed following successful treatment. The findings should help
nurses and other health professionals give better support to prostate
and testicular cancer patients and their families, says Ms Colbourne.
An earlier, smaller study showed that men who survive testicular
cancer tend to trivialise the event and want to return to normal life
as soon as possible. In contrast, women preferred to discuss what was
happening with their friends - an approach that often caused conflict
within the relationship. "Recovering patients were constantly in fear
of the cancer returning and they found that difficult enough without
taking on board the fear of their partner," says Ms Colbourne.
Patients also found it distressing that when they reported even the
smallest abdominal pain, wives or partners would insist they had it
checked, says Ms Colbourne. Some women said that their husbands had
become short-tempered after cancer treatment and some experienced
sexual difficulties, although cancer had not had a detrimental effect
on the couples' sex lives in the majority of cases. Ms Colbourne's
study will examine in greater depth the different coping strategies
employed by men and women, and what adjustments are made to the
relationship. Jamie Spencer, a 34-year-old quantity surveyor from
Nottingham who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1995, says his
experience put a strain on his relationship. "When I was going for
monthly checkups I became very stressed for two weeks beforehand and
then I would be elated for two weeks afterwards," he says. Although
Jamie now feels that he has beaten his cancer, he says his wife
worries that the cancer is returning at the slightest sign of any
illness. According to Cancer Research UK, around 22,800 men are
diagnosed each year with prostate cancer and the majority of cases
occur in men over 70. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in
men aged between 15 and 45, with around 1,900 cases diagnosed in the
UK each year.
Prostate Tissue Could Treat Bone
Disease
A team from Ohio State University's Comprehensive Cancer Center point
out that, unlike other cancers, when prostate cancer spreads to the
bones it stimulates growth. When most other cancers spread to the
bones, they cause them to crumble, resulting in pain and
debilitation. Dr Tom Rosol, a vet at the centre, says that up till
now it has been difficult to find out why prostate cancer has this
effect on bone because of the problem of finding a suitable animal
model. Whenever scientists put human prostate cells into animals they
behave differently to the way they do in humans, he says. He decided
to test whether healthy prostate tissue, in addition to cancerous
tissue, was capable of sending growth signals to the bone. And he
used dogs' healthy prostate tissue as a means of testing his
hypothesis as they are the only animals, other than humans, that
develop cancer of this gland. Small amounts of prostate tissue
obtained from dogs were inserted under the skin of adult nude mice,
which were observed for two weeks. The results left researchers
"shocked", says Dr Rosol. Within two weeks the density of the
skullcap or calvaria of the mice had almost doubled. "This was really
exciting, not just because of the speed of the reaction, but because
there are really very few things in nature that induce bone growth,"
says Dr Rosol. While he says it is unclear what causes the bone to
form he suggests the probability is that it is a "complex mix of
growth factors", such as a parathyroid hormone-like protein and
endothelin-1, which act alongside receptive agents in the hosts'
bone. His team is currently working with a drug designed to block
endothelin-1 activity and they believe it may be working. Dr Rosol
says that there is a need to develop new and workable animal models
to improve understanding of cancer. But he says that a process such
as prostate cancer metastasis may hold the clue to an effective
treatment for diseases such as osteoporosis that involve bone
destruction. "What is devastating for a prostate cancer patient may
be a source of hope for someone with osteoporosis," adds Dr Rosol.
Source: The Prostate
Limiting PSA Testing To Men with a Family
History of Prostate Cancer "Misses Most Prostate Cancers"
Researchers at the Finnish Cancer Registry in Helsinki say that,
despite some evidence that men with a family history of prostate
cancer are more likely to develop the disease, limiting screening
efforts to these men will result in doctors missing many cases of the
disease. Only six per cent of prostate cancer cases would have been
detected in a study of more than 20,000 men, if testing for prostate
specific antigen (PSA), a protein linked to prostate cancer, was
restricted to men with a family history of the disease. The research
is reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Revolution in Prostate Therapy Led by
Microwave Thermotherapy
One of the hottest areas in urological therapies comprises testing
and treatment for both benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and
prostate cancer. This area, consisting of therapies that often can be
used to treat both disorders, is effectively driving much of the U.S.
urological products market, according the June 2002 issue of the
widely read medtech industry publication, "MedMarkets."
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
Scientists Develop Tomato that Packs More
Cancer-Fighting Punch
Forget the attack of the killer tomato, this is the attack of the
healthy tomato: A team of scientists has developed a tomato that
contains as much as three and a half time more of the cancer-fighting
antioxidant lycopene.
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
Dogs Key to Understanding Advanced Prostate
Cancer
When some of the most common cancers spread, they often head for the
bones. Once there, they typically eat away the good, strong tissue,
leaving a soft and crumbly structure in their wake. It is a painful
and debilitating condition. But prostate cancer is different. Unlike
any other cancer, when prostate cancer spreads to the bones - as it
does in 80 percent of all advanced cases - it actually stimulates new
bone to grow, not erodes it.
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
Zometa Effective for Debilitating Bone
Complications
Zometa (zoledronic acid for injection) is effective for the treatment
of potentially debilitating skeletal related events from bone
metastases in prostate cancer patients, according to data presented
at the 97th annual meeting of the American Urological Association
(AUA) in Orlando, Florida.
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
Facing Fears: Prostate Cancer
Screening
Screening for prostate cancer is crucial, since the disease often
exhibits no symptoms, and is most effectively treated when caught
early. Caucasian men are advised to visit their doctors for screening
beginning at age 50, and African American men and men with a family
history of prostate cancer, at age 40. Below, medical experts Dr.
Daniel Shasha and Dr. Robert Salant review the two most important
tests used for prostate screening-and describe what to expect when
you go see your doctor.
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
BYU Study Finds Prognosis Is Worse for
Prostate-Cancer Patients in Their 40s
Prostate cancer's deadly grip is worse for men in their 40s even
though the disease is still considered rare in anyone younger than
50, according to a Utah-led study.
The findings raise more questions than answers, the authors say,
because race and tumor stage made little difference in the poorer
prognosis.
"It may be that younger men diagnosed with prostate cancer have a
more difficult time adjusting to their diagnosis psychologically,"
says the study authors, Ray Merrill and Justin Bird, researchers at
the Provo-based Brigham Young University.
Yet the BYU team, part of the College of Health and Human
Performance, says more research is needed to discover exactly why
prostate-cancer prognosis is worse in the 40-49 age group compared
with the 50-79 group. Men 80 years and older, like the younger group,
also had a poorer prospect of recovery.
The study appears in a recent issue of the journal Cancer Causes
and Control. Data was gathered from nearly 300,000 prostate-cancer
patients in five U.S. states (Utah, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa and New
Mexico) and in four major cities (Atlanta, Detroit, San Francisco and
Seattle).
Possibly "sexual potency may be a more important concern for men
of younger ages, and this may deter them from selecting treatment,
influence their treatment choice or delay initiation of treatment,"
the study says.
The disease signals an uncontrolled malignant growth of cells in
the gland located just below the male bladder. In U.S. men, prostate
cancer is the second leading cause of death; it can be diagnosed with
a PSA test of the blood or through a physical exam called digital
rectal exam or DRE.
Controversy surrounds the idea of encouraging prostate screening
in younger men because data, including the BYU study, fails to show
any early diagnostic benefit among the general male population, the
authors said.
The American Cancer Society describes prostate cancer as a latent
disease, hidden but waiting to develop. The group cautions against
raising undue alarm by testing before age 50 unless there is father,
brother, or son diagnosed with prostate cancer at a young age.
New Predictive Marker Found for
Prostate and Colon Cancer
A protein that interacts with the gene for Huntington's disease could
also help physicians diagnose and more effectively treat patients
with two of the most common and deadly forms of cancer, according to
a new University of Michigan study.
Absent in normal prostate and colon epithelial cells, but found in
large amounts in prostate, colon and other tumor cells, it is called
huntingtin interacting protein or HIP1. The protein has never before
been associated with any type of cancer. (Editors: Note "huntingtin"
is correct spelling.)
"Anytime you find a true marker for cancer, it's surprising," says
Theodora S. Ross, M.D., Ph.D., an oncologist in the U-M's
Comprehensive Cancer Center and an assistant professor of internal
medicine in the U-M Medical School. "But HIP1 also is unusual,
because it seems to be such a strong prognosticator, especially for
prostate cancer."
Results of U-M research on HIP1's relationship to human prostate
and colon cancer were published August 1 in the Journal of Clinical
Investigation.
"We don't find significant HIP1 expression in normal prostate
epithelial cells, but as prostate cancer develops and progresses, we
see a steady increase in HIP1 expression," Ross explains. "HIP1 was
expressed in 50 percent of tumors from patients in the earliest
stages of cancer, 88 percent of tumors from patients with localized
prostate cancer, and 100 percent of patients with metastatic prostate
cancer."
"High levels of HIP1 were present in every stage of colon cancer,"
Ross adds. "In melanoma, breast and ovarian cancers, the expression
patterns varied, but HIP1 was consistently over-expressed."
During her post-doctoral fellowship at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute, Ross cloned the protein from bone marrow cells of a
patient with leukemia. Since joining the U-M Medical School three
years ago, she has focused on nothing but HIP1 and its relationship
to an important cellular trafficking and signaling system called the
clathrin-mediated trafficking pathway. Cells use this system to
remove old receptors and signaling molecules on cell surfaces and
replace them with new molecules.
The HIP1 protein appears to be involved in this process, according
to Ross, along with another protein called htt, which is expressed by
the mutated gene responsible for Huntington's disease -- an
inherited, progressive form of dementia. Although both proteins are
found in parts of the cell where movement of material occurs, their
exact role is unknown. The connection to the Huntington's gene could
be significant, however, "because people with Huntington's rarely get
cancer," Ross adds.
"This is a new pathway in tumorigenesis; no one else is working
with it in this context," Ross says. "Our paper is the first
demonstration of a connection between tumor formation and a protein
involved in this cell trafficking pathway."
Ross' laboratory is now trying to understand the relationship
between HIP1 and cancer cells. "Originally, I thought HIP1 was a
tumor suppressor gene, but it could be a survival factor that
prevents cancerous cells from dying or an oncogene causing normal
cells to become cancerous. It could have varying effects, depending
on the cell or tissue type. More research is needed to know for
sure," she says.
Results included in the JCI paper showed that when U-M researchers
created a mutant version of HIP1 by knocking off one segment of the
protein, the result was massive cell death. "When we made a mutant
that interfered with the function of the normal protein, the cells
died, which suggests that HIP1 is necessary for cell survival," she
says.
If scientists can discover the functional relationship between
HIP1 and cancer, Ross believes it should be possible to develop
agents that could kill prostate and colon tumor cells without harming
the normal epithelial cells lining the inside of these organs.
In her study, Ross first measured levels of HIP1 expression in 60
cancer cell lines and a tissue microarray of primary tumors from the
National Cancer Institute, which included hundreds of tissue samples
from colon, breast, melanoma, ovarian, prostate, kidney and lung
cancer. "We never could have looked at all these different tumors
without the NCI microarray; it's an amazing resource for
investigators," Ross says.
To quantify HIP1 expression in different stages of prostate
cancer, U-M researchers used tissue samples from the U-M Prostate
Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) tumor bank, funded
by the National Cancer Institute. Tissue samples of various stages of
colon cancer were provided and interpreted by Peter C. Lucas, M.D.,
Ph.D., U-M lecturer in pathology.
Research on the genetic and molecular profile of prostate cancer
is part of a major initiative underway in the U-M Comprehensive
Cancer Center. Its goal is to link molecular genetics and proteomics
with clinical outcome for all types of cancer.
The research study was funded by the Huntington's Disease Society
of America, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and
the Cancer Research Fund of the Damon Runyon Foundation.
Dinesh S. Rao, Ph.D., a U-M post-doctoral fellow, is first author
of the study. In addition to Lucas, other U-M Medical School
collaborators include Martin G. Sanda, M.D., associate professor of
surgery and of internal medicine; Mark A. Rubin, M.D., associate
professor of pathology and surgery; Ikuko F. Mizukami, Ph.D.,
research associate; and graduate students Teresa S. Hyun and Priti D.
Kumar.
Winning His Battle
Speaking from his 10th-floor, ocean-side San Diego condo Tuesday,
Jerry Tarkanian was, well, Jerry Tarkanian.
Alert and optimistic, the former Fresno State coach didn't sound
like a 71-year-old in his second week of radiation treatment for
prostate cancer. An all-encompassing conversation roamed from his
health to the latest basketball gossip to books. Yes, books.
"I'm trying to read a book called 'The Trust Fund'," Tarkanian
said. "I used to only read [basketball] books. I'm not like
that anymore."
He didn't even bring any UNLV or Fresno State game tapes to his
Southern California home, where he will spend weekdays for the next
seven weeks recovering from treatment. Each morning, Tarkanian
receives about 15 minutes of treatment at a Scripps medical facility
in San Diego.
Then he retreats to his condo to read and rest.
"I feel good," he said. "After the treatment I get tired and
usually take an afternoon nap. But that's OK."
Tarkanian was warned of potential prostate cancer in August, but
initially didn't worry about it. Then, after the season, he decided
to tend to it while the prostate cancer -- the leading cause of
cancer deaths in men aged 55 or more -- was in the early stages.
Many luminaries in the basketball world have expressed sympathy
for the man who viewed himself as the NCAA's No. 1 target. NBA
personality Charles Barkley wished Tarkanian well on the national TNT
broadcast of the NBA draft after former Fresno State center Melvin
Ely was selected. Adidas bigwig Sonny Vaccaro said last week his
thoughts and prayers were with his friend.
"The treatment is going fine," said son and former Bulldogs
assistant Danny Tarkanian, who now lives in Las Vegas. "Doctors told
him they think it is contained in the prostate. My dad says he is not
feeling any pain."
Asked if he felt apprehension about receiving treatment, Tarkanian
said. "At my age, you expect something [to be wrong with
you]. ... They said they got it early. This is supposed to cure
it."
Tarkanian also said he and his two sons, Danny and George, will
establish a youth basketball academy in Las Vegas. The Tarkanians
will hold camps for elementary school-aged kids this month to raise
money for the academy.
Helping out will be former UNLV players, including Sam Smith,
Robert Smith and Freddie Banks.
Tarkanian has his weekends free to visit relatives and friends. He
said he will be in Fresno in two weeks.
He also said he has plans to attend the Oct. 26 Florida
State-Notre Dame football game in Tallahassee, Fla., with
friends.
"He is doing well," George Tarkanian said. "The treatment is not
really affecting him too much."
Source: www.fresnobee.com
or
the reporter can be reached at eprisbell@fresnobee.com
Got Soy? New Research Focusing on Soy
Role in Prevention of Prostate Cancer in U.S. Males.
Parade Magazine, the weekly newspaper supplement, is the
latest publication to report favorably on the role of soyfoods in
helping prevent prostate cancer. Health columnist Dr. Isadore
Rosenfeld, writing on "Medical News That Matters," says "several
recent and current studies have focused on preventing prostate
cancer," with soy intake featured in the research.
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
Genetic Link to Prostate Cancer
Found
The genetic make-up of a man's immune system can have a direct
bearing on his chances of developing prostate cancer, researchers
say.
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
Prostate Cancer Isn't Just a Guy Thing
Helping your mate cope with prostate cancer can include far more than
just holding his hand for comfort. From encouraging him to get tested
for prostate cancer to helping him get the best care if he does have
the disease, a woman can immeasurably improve the quality of her
partner's life. That's the opinion of Desiree Lyon Howe of Houston,
whose husband, Richard Howe, is a prostate cancer survivor and one of
the country's leading lay experts on the disease.
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
Study Shows Cancer Cells are Vulnerable
in New Ways
Vitamin E, a compound suspected of playing a role in preventing
prostate cancer, interferes with two proteins that play a central
role in the development of the disease. This is the report of
scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center who
published their findings in the May 28, 2002, issue of the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
Fighting Prostate Cancer: 'Go Get a
Checkup'
With his three daughters all employed in the medical field, North
Jacksonville resident Charles Sapp had a bit more than luck on his
side more than a year ago when his prostate cancer was caught in the
early stages.
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
TIG1 Identified As Tumor Suppressor Gene For
Prostate Cancer
A new study has identified tazarotene-induced gene 1 (TIG1) as a
possible tumor suppressor gene for prostate cancer, and experimental
results suggest that decreased expression of the gene may play a role
in the progression of prostate cancer.
Source: Journal of the National Cancer
Institute, www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/8012/348096.html
Lance Armstrong Inspires Cancer
Patients
Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of
25. A few days later, he learned the cancer had spread to his brain.
He underwent surgery and chemotherapy. Three years later, he rode a
bicycle more than 2,200 miles to win the Tour de France.
Armstrong insists the cancer was the best thing that ever happened
to him, because it taught him about the strength of the human spirit,
and the love of family and friends. One month after his chemotherapy
ended, he met his wife. Using sperm removed before his surgery, he
and his wife conceived a son, who is now 3 years old.
Lance Armstrong's recent victory in the grueling Tour de France
has inspired cancer victims around the world. Upon winning the race,
Armstrong said, "Regardless of one victory, two victories, four
victories, there's never been a victory by a cancer survivor. That's
a fact that hopefully I'll be remembered for."
John Romano, columnist for the St. Petersburg Times, recently
wrote a column that describes the meaning of Armstrong's victory to
cancer survivors:
Source: www.sptimes.com/2002/07/24/Columns/Armstrong_inspires_ot.shtml
Cancer, Vasectomy
Connection Disproved
Undergoing a vasectomy does not increase a man's risk of contracting
prostate cancer, a study forom New Zealand finds. Though some
previous studies have produced mixed findings about a link between
vasectomy and prostate cancer victims, researchers at the University
of Otago-Dunedin say their two-year study of 923 prostate cancer
victims and 1,224 "control" subjects showed no connection. "Our
results are consistent with several recent studies that have not
found a significant association between vasectomy and prostate
cancer," says the study in the Journal of the American Medical
Association.
Group Wants Weedkiller Off Market
An environmental group asked the government to ban the use of
atrazine, a weedkiller commonly sprayed on cornfields and lawns. The
Natural Resources Defense Council filed a petition asking the EPA to
take the chemical off the market, charging its leading manufacturer
did not properly disclose that 17 workers had developed prostate
cancer. The group also said the chemical had been linked to
deformities in frogs. The petition also asks that the EPA and Justice
Department investigate the manufacturer, Swiss-based Syngenta, the
world's biggest agribusiness. The company's North American
headquarters is in Greensboro, N.C.
Nurses Call for Improvement in Prostate
Cancer Treatment
The survey of more than 200 nurses with a specialist interest in
urology found that these healthcare professionals strongly believe
treatment regimes involving side effects such as hot flushes have a
negative impact on patients' quality of life. Half of those who
responded to the survey said that the side effects of prostate cancer
treatment diminishes patient outlook towards the disease prognosis.
Although the majority of respondents believed that their patients
were satisfied with their treatment, some said that they complained
about "painful regimens". Almost all of the nurses said that they and
their patients would be interested in new prostate cancer treatment
regimes that produce lower levels of side effects. Patient comfort,
said the nurses, must have a high priority when treating patients
with prostate cancer. "Everyday there are advances being made that
help make treatment regimens less painful or more tolerable," said
Jean Lewis, president of the Society of Urologic Nurses and
Associates. "Pain and side effects may be major issues for some
prostate cancer patients, and it is important that healthcare
providers and patients work together to determine which treatment
regimen offers the most comfort," she added.
Source: Society of Urologic Nurses and
Associates
Male Cancer on Increase
Prostate cancer is set to become the most common cancer in men within
the next three years, experts have said. The Institute of Cancer
Research said new figures show that cases of the disease have been
rising steadily since 1971 and if trends continue it will overtake
lung cancer before 2006. Despite this, the disease receives a
fraction of the total spent on cancer research in the UK. The
institute has called for more funding to help pay for research.
Bicalutamide Reduces Risk of Prostate
Cancer Progression Regardless of Disease Stage, Lymph Node Status,
Study Shows
Prostate cancer drug bicalutamide may significantly reduce the risk
of disease progression regardless of disease stage or lymph node
status, according to new findings. Researchers studied the efficacy
of bicalutamide in an ongoing treatment program, which consists of 3
clinical trials including a total of more than 8,000 patients. In
those studies, men were assigned to receive either 150 mg
bicalutamide or placebo each day in addition to standard therapy.
Standard therapies included radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy.
Results from an overall analysis released last year showed
bicalutamide therapy was associated with a 42% reduction in the risk
of disease progression compared with placebo. In a new study,
researchers found that compared with standard care alone, 150 mg of
bicalutamide lowered the risk of disease progression by 71% in
patients whose cancer had spread to the lymph nodes. Among patients
whose cancer had not spread to the lymphInodes, or whose lymph node
status was unknown, bicalutamide lowered the risk of disease
progression by 41% and 40%, respectively. Data also revealed that
bicalutamide significantly reduced the risk of PSA level progression
regardless of disease stage or grade. Study data were presented at
the American Urological Association's annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.
(Iverson P, et al. 1355)
Men "Unwilling" to Discuss Cancer
The charity found that women are more than twice as likely as men to
call its nurses for general advice about cancer. A breakdown of calls
made to Cancer Research UK information nurses between 1999 and 2001
shows that men made an average of 2,531 calls each year, while 5,617
were made by women. Women were also responsible for 45 per cent of
calls about prostate cancer and 40 per cent of calls about testicular
cancer. Cancer Research UK's psychological oncology group, which is
based at the University of Sussex, says the findings highlight a
common communication problem between the sexes. Group director
Professor Lesley Fallowfield said, "Feelings can be quite hard for
men to discuss, particularly if it's about things like male cancers
which are threatening to their masculinity and manhood. "There's also
a cultural expectation that big boys don't cry' and many men do not
actually ask about things that trouble them - even if it's
anonymously and over a phone line. So we have to find new ways of
reaching them because sharing concerns can be a real help," she
added. Cancer Research UK has designated June as Men's Cancer Month
and is launching a message board on its website to encourage men to
discuss their experiences. Radio 5 Live sports presenter Russell
Fuller, 29, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1999, will be
one of the first to post a message on the site. He discusses the
uncertainty he experienced in the days leading up to diagnosis and
urges other people to get unusual signs checked out. "Men generally
don't like talking about their feelings as much and losing a
testicle, like I did, can be embarrassing and almost like a loss of
face," he said. "But I'm a very open person and talking about it was
an invaluable help. My friends and family were very supportive, made
a few jokes and did wonders for my state of mind!" The Cancer
Research UK Men's Cancer Awareness Month message board can be reached
at www.cancerresearchuk.org/menscancermonth
Vitamin E Identified as Possible Prostate Cancer
Treatment
A team from New York's Rochester University, led by Dr Shuyuan Yeh,
say the vitamin interferes with both the prostate-specific antigen
(PSA) chemical and the androgen receptor, which play a central role
in the development of the disease. In the laboratory, vitamin E
exposure led to a 25 to 50 per cent reduction in the number of cancer
cells and, under certain conditions, killed about 90 per cent of
malignant cells. Currently, many of the drugs used to treat prostate
cancer work by inhibiting the production of testosterone or are
"anti-androgens" that prevent the hormone from binding to the
androgen receptor, thereby stopping the receptor from contributing to
cell growth. The new research suggests a different way of disabling
the receptor. Dr Yeh and her team believe that one day, instead of
cutting off a man's testosterone supply to stop the androgen receptor
supporting prostate cancer cells, doctors will be able to disable the
receptor itself. The researchers warn that there are different types
of vitamin E and that they vary in their effectiveness when treating
prostate cancer. The type found to be effective in the laboratory was
vitamin E succinate. The team also caution that until more is known
about the mechanism by which the vitamin provides its protective role
it will be difficult to develop new treatments that mimic its effect.
"This is exciting and quite promising, but until we do further
studies in people, we can't really recommend that every man take
vitamin E to prevent the disease," said Dr Edward Messing, a
co-author of the study. However, some studies in people have already
shown that vitamin E may help prevent prostate cancer. In a study of
29,000 men in Finland, those who took vitamin E had about one-third
fewer cases of prostate cancer than those who received no vitamin
supplementation. Dr Yeh and her team believe that a new treatment for
the disease may be found by mixing vitamin E with traditional
anti-androgen drugs. In the future, Dr Yeh plans to study the effects
of vitamin E in prostate cancer patients and Dr Messing is involved
in a large trial that will test whether vitamin E or selenium alone,
or in combination, can prevent prostate cancer.
Anterior Prostate Cancer Harder to
Diagnose
It has been suggested that up to 30 per cent of neoplasms are missed
by standard sextant biopsy; however, the success rate in terms of
tumour location has not been clarified to date. Dr Simon Bott and
colleagues from University College London investigated the rate of
successful diagnosis of prostate cancer by sextant biopsy in a set of
123 excised prostates for which information regarding previous biopsy
samples was available on a prostate cancer database. Sixty-two of the
cases involved tumours with an anterior distribution and 61 had a
posterior distribution and were used as a comparison. In total, 21
per cent of the cases of prostate cancer in the database had an
anterior distribution. The researchers compared the number of
sessions that were required before a diagnosis was made, the number
of positive cores, tumour length and prostate gland weight between
the anterior group and the posterior group. The number of biopsy
sessions was one set in 47 cases and more than one set in 15 cases of
anterior cancer compared to one set in 57 cases and more than one set
in four cases of cancer distributed in the posterior area. The mean
number of positive cores was also significantly less in the anterior
group (1.8 versus 2.5) and tumour length was reduced (4.1 versus
7.8mm on average). However, gland weight and tumour volume did not
differ significantly between groups. Dr Bott and colleagues concluded
that prostate tumours with an anterior distribution, which comprise
one-fifth of all prostate malignancies, require more biopsy sessions
and yield fewer positive cores than those with a posterior
distribution. Writing in the BJU International, they suggest, "If
there is a high suspicion of cancerand biopsies are negative, the
anterior gland should be targeted at subsequent biopsy." Reference:
Bott et al, BJU International 2002;89:886-889
Prostate Predictor Less Reliable in
Hispanic Than in White Populations
These are the findings of researchers at Columbia University's
Presbyterian campus in the US who have called for the introduction of
a different "cut-off" point when interpreting PSAD data taken from
Hispanics. Speaking at the American Urological Association in
Florida, the doctors involved in the study explained that, among
Caucasian men, there is a cut-off point above which readings of PSAD
levels have a 40 per cent likelihood of being associated with
malignant forms of the disease. However, a study of 404 Hispanics and
341 non-Hispanic Caucasians with elevated PSA levels or an abnormal
rectal examination has suggested that the cut-off point is less
reliable when testing Hispanic individuals. Thirty-five per cent of
the Hispanic men and just over 25 per cent of the Caucasians who took
part in the study had cancer. The mean PSAD levels among Caucasian
participants with malignant and benign tumours were 0.143 and 0.113
respectively. A significant difference in the mean PSAD was observed
among those with malignant cancer. Hispanic men registered an average
PSAD of 0.194, while for Caucasian men, the rate stood at 0.143. The
study is the first of its kind to show that Hispanics with similar
PSA levels to white men have higher PSAD readings. However, in
interpreting the PSAD data for Hispanics, it was impossible to tell
who would have malignant or benign forms of the disease. Researchers
argue that while PSAD is able to differentiate between malignant and
benign cancers in Caucasians, this is not the case for Hispanics. Dr
Erik Goluboff, assistant professor of urology at Columbia University
College of Physicians and Surgeons and senior author of the study,
said, "We don't know what it is, but we should probably have a
different cut-off point for Hispanic men in interpreting the PSAD, or
some other way of managing the Hispanic PSADs."
Source: American Urological Association
New Drug Delivery Works Against Prostate
Cancer
A new way to deliver a tried-and-true treatment shows promising
results against prostate cancer. The drug, injected under the skin
and released over a month's time, helps reduce testosterone levels,
limiting growth of the tumor and minimizing side effects, researchers
said. The drug Eligard is injected under the skin, where it becomes a
biodegradable implant that gradually releases the medication over 30
days. This system can deliver the drug in a way that produces very
low level of the male hormone. Suppressing testosterone in prostate
cancer patients may limit tumor growth and is thought to produce
fewer side effects than do traditional therapies. In the study
patients receiving this treatment, only 1 percent experienced severe
hot flash and sweats, while 83 percent reported the symptoms were
mild. "Many advances have been made in the hormonal treatment of
prostate cancer," said Dr. A. Oliver Sartor, director of the Stanley
S. Scott Cancer Center at Louisiana State University Medical School
in New Orleans, La. "In particular, Eligard 7.5 mg utilizes a new
delivery system for a proven drug that has been used in prostate
cancer for more than a decade. This delivery system ... results in a
consistently very low level of testosterone, thereby helping to
optimally manage this difficult disease." The results were presented
at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association in
Orlando, Florida.
Location Plays Role in Cancer
Survival
The survival rates of Canadians with cancer depends on what region of
the country they live in, according to an official report. The report
on health care in Canada released by the Canadian Institute for
Health Information says that on average, Canadian women with breast
cancer have an 82 percent chance of surviving five years after
diagnosis. That number rises to 85 percent for women living in the
western province of British Columbia, but drops to 76 percent in the
eastern province of Newfoundland. The same pattern is repeated for
men with prostate cancer. Nationally, there is an 87 percent survival
rate. In the province of British Columbia, it's 91 percent but in the
eastern province of Newfoundland it drops to 67 percent. Dr. Simon
Sutcliffe, executive director of the British Columbia Cancer Agency
said there could be several reasons for the discrepancy. Factors such
as a greater health consciousness on the West Coast and the large
number of Asian immigrants could be at work. "Because the rates for
breast cancer and prostate cancer are less in Asian populations that
could also provide a skew or a bias with respect to the results in
British Columbia," said Sutcliffe.
Prostate Cancer Hormonal Therapy
May Increase Sexual And Physical Problems
A new study suggests that men with early-stage prostate cancer who
are treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) may experience
more physical discomfort and be twice as likely to experience sexual
impairment compared with men who forgo such therapy.
Source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute ,
www.intelihealth.com/enews?347412
Effect Of Diet On Risk Of Benign
Prostate Disease In Middle-Aged Men
Benign prostate disease is common among older men and is associated
with problems ranging from lower urinary tract symptoms to the need
for surgical resection of the prostate. Publishing in the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Suzuki et al. explored the
connections between nutrition and the risk of developing benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a large group of male health
professionals. Men with the highest energy intakes and with high
intakes of protein and certain fats were at greater risk for
developing BPH.
Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,
www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/325/8015/347664.html
New Test Identifies Most Dangerous Prostate
Cancers: Could help determine whether men need gland surgically
removed
A new way of measuring the aggressiveness of prostate cancer could
someday cut in half the number of men with the disease who have their
prostates surgically removed. Whether a man with prostate cancer
needs a prostatectomy often hinges on what's called his Gleason
score, a test that grades the tumor based on its appearance under a
microscope. The Gleason score, which has been used for decades,
determines how advanced the cancer is, grading the malignancy on a
score of 2 to 10. If the score is 6 or higher, the doctor is likely
to perform a prostatectomy, removing the entire gland.
A prostatectomy is done to save lives, but it is an unpleasant
experience because one of the possible adverse effects is impotence.
But researchers at the University of Minnesota,where Dr. Donald F.
Gleason first developed the test, have come up with a new test that
could single out those who would benefit from a prostatectomy from
those who wouldn't necessarily need the operation.
The new test determines how aggressively the cancer is growing and
spreading through the body. Its assessment is based not on the
appearance of cancer cells but on their biochemistry, Gleason says.
It is actually two interlocked tests, measuring levels of two
molecules produced by the cancer cells.
"One is an enzyme called cathepsin B," says the study's lead
author, Akhouri A. Sinha, a professor of genetics, cell biology and
development at the University of Minnesota Cancer Center. "It is
produced in every solid tumor and has the ability to dissolve
connective tissue, which stimulates spread of the cancer throughout
the body.
"I have also looked at an inhibitor of cathepsin B, stefin A. What
we have done is to take the ratio of cathepsin B to stefin A. If the
ratio of cathepsin B to stefin A is high, the cancer is likely to
grow and spread aggressively. This provides an excellent test to
predict the progression of the cancer," he adds.
Sinha and his colleagues at the university and the Minneapolis
Veterans Affairs Medical Center ran the test on 97 men whose prostate
cancers graded 6 or higher on the Gleason test. They found an
excellent correlation between the ratio of the two molecules and the
progression of the disease, with differences among men whose Gleason
scores were identical.
One existing way to judge a prostate cancer is to measure levels
of prostate-specific antigen, PSA. If those levels rise after the
prostate is removed, the chance of a recurrence is high. The new test
predicted such recurrences before PSA levels rose, Sinha says.
What he sees in the future is use of the new test for all men with
prostate cancer. "You can take a small biopsy and do the test in the
hospital," he says. "Any competent clinical laboratory can do
it."
And, more important, he adds, "If 100 men are diagnosed with a
Gleason score 6, now all the prostates come out. Our projection is
that 50 to 52 percent of them should not have a prostatectomy,
because they do not have aggressive tumors. They can play golf and
enjoy their lives. The others should have their prostate cancers
treated very aggressively, because the tumors are likely to return in
less than five years."
But the newly reported study is just the first step toward that
future, Sinha says. "What we need to do now is a prospective study to
correlate results with biopsy data. We are hoping that someone will
want to do it, and we will help to set it up."
Discussions about such a study have already begun with researchers
at another institute,Sinha says.
Gleason, who is an emeritus professor of pathology at Minnesota,
is listed among the authors of the study, which is published in the
journal Cancer. But he cheerfully admits that "I was lucky to have my
name attached to it."
Retired for several years, he acknowledges that the Gleason test
"made me famous. It is in use all over the world -- Russia, China,
Japan."
You can get more information about prostate cancer from the
National Cancer Institute or www.pcaw.org
Source: By Ed Edelson, HealthScoutNews Reporter
You Can Impact 2003 Govenment Spending
toward Prostate Cancer Research. Act Now!
As appropriators begin to consider spending bills for Fiscal Year
2003, we need your help to remind them of the importance of prostate
cancer research at the Congressionally Directed Medical Research
Program (CDMRP) at the Department of Defense. Make sure your members
appropriate at least $100 million, the appropriation needed to fund
clinical trials. Click here to send them a letter and urge your
friends and family to do so.
Source: capwiz.com/pcacoalition/issues/alert/?alertid=218056
PSA debate highlighted in Pittsburg
paper
Carl Frankel, retired general counsel for the United Steel Workers of
America, presented his views on the PSA screening debate to the
Pittsburg Post-Gazette and it published his opinion 6/10/02.
Click here to read his remarks: www.post-gazette.com/healthscience/20020611hprostate4.asp
Information for men with advanced prostate
cancer
Finding information about the later stages of prostate cancer may be
difficult. Robert Young has collected a group of links at Phoenix 5
that may help you with issues related to dealing with your disease.
Click here to read more. www.phoenix5.org/advanced/menuadvanced.html
Learn about constipation
Medications given to prostate cancer patients for pain often lead to
constipation. This article lists many additional triggers for
problems with bowel movements. Find out how your doctor will assess
the problem and get informed about treatments. Some side effects
include: Constipation, Delirium, Fatigue, Fever,, Chills and Sweats,
Lymphedema, Nausea, Oral Complications, Radiation, Enteritis,
Pruritus, and Sleep Disorders.
Source: www.bioimmune.com/services/cope/research.asp?pos=1&id=1
Stem cell injection offers hope for
prostate patients
Dr. Ulf-Henrik Mellqvist, of the University of Gothenburg, is
attacking tumours using immune cells from siblings. The first patient
to have the treatment was given six months to live but is still alive
15 months later. Ananova, (6/8/02)
Source: www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_603611.html?menu=news.latestheadlines
Accuracy of Prostate Cancer Test May be
Influenced by Ethnicity
A preliminary study comparing the performance of prostate specific
antigen (PSA) tests in Caucasian and Hispanic-American men has found
that the PSA test may be more accurate at diagnosing malignant or
benign prostate disease in Caucasians than in Hispanic-Americans.
Erik T. Goluboff of the Allen Pavilion of New York Presbyterian
Hospital in New York and his colleagues reported these findings on
May 27 at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association
in Orlando.
Past studies have compared the performance of PSA tests in
African-American and Caucasian men, but few have looked at PSA test
performance in Hispanic-American men. In this study, 404
Hispanic-American men and 341 Caucasian men with elevated PSA levels
underwent biopsies and prostate volume measurements.
Of these patients, 242 Hispanic-American men and 255 Caucasian men
had PSA levels between 2.5 and 10 ng/ml. Based on the biopsy, 35% of
the Hispanic men and 25.5% of the Caucasian men had cancer. The
authors compared average PSA and PSA density levels among the men
with cancer. (PSA density, or PSAD, measures the ratio of PSA to
prostate volume. A PSAD reading of 0.15 or higher has a 40%
likelihood of malignancy.)
The authors found no difference in mean PSA levels between
Hispanics and Caucasians, or between men with malignant versus benign
disease. However, average PSAD was higher in Hispanics with cancer
(0.194) than Caucasians with cancer (0.143). These findings suggest
that physicians may need to use different criteria to interpret PSAD
results of Hispanics and Caucasians.
This study (Abstract #833) was presented last week at the 97th
annual AUA meeting. More information is available from AUA at
www.auanet.org
For JNCI News articles on the PSA test, see "Value of
Prostate-Specific Antigen: Are Higher Levels Meaningful?", "PSA as a
Treatment Marker for Prostate Cancer?", and "Prostate Cancer: Numbers
May Not Tell the Whole Story".
Vitamin E Disables Receptor Responsible
for Prostate Cancer
Vitamin E supplements have been associated with a reduced risk of
prostate cancer. Now, Yu Zhang and Shuyuan Yeh, of the University of
Rochester in New York, have discovered how it actually works. These
findings may lead to new targets for prostate cancer therapies, the
researchers conclude in the 5/28/02 issue of the Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences.
Traditionally, physicians treat early-stage prostate cancer
patients with anti-androgen therapy. Androgen is a hormone associated
with increased prostate cancer risk, and early stages of prostate
cancer have responded well to this therapy. Over time, however,
prostate cancer cells become resistant to anti-androgen.
In this study, Zhang, Yeh, and their colleagues used a prostate
cancer cell line to study the mechanism of vitamin E succinate (VES),
one form of vitamin E, in slowing the development of prostate
cancer.
They found that VES decreased the levels of prostate-specific
antigen and the blocked the formation of the androgen receptor, which
is necessary for prostate cancer development. Moreover, VES was more
effective at inhibiting prostate cancer cell growth than
hydroxyflutamide, an anti-androgen used to treat prostate cancer
patients. The combination of VES and hydroxyflutamide significantly
inhibited prostate cancer cell growth.
The authors conclude: "This newly discovered mechanism could
provide an opportunity for the combination of vitamin E with other
natural products to coordinately suppress [androgen receptor]
function and prevent prostate tumor progression."
The study (Zhang Y. et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
2002;99:7408-14) is available from PNAS at www.pnas.org
For JNCI News articles on vitamins and cancer, see "Cancer
Treatment And Vitamin C: The Debate Lingers", "Vitamin E Reduces
Prostate Cancer Rates In Finnish Trial: U.S. Considers Follow-up",
and "Whatever Happened to . . . ? Looking Back 10 Years".
Two-Drug Therapy Is Best For Symptomatic
Prostate Enlargement
Two drugs commonly used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
are more effective in combination than alone to prevent progression
of this condition, according to results of a multi-center National
Institutes of Health clinical trial being presented at the American
Urological Association (AUA) meeting in Orlando on 5/28/02.
Source: www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9105/342/350557.html
Workplace Prostate Info Works
An innovative research project involving the Men’s Health Forum
and Consignia has shown that talking to men about their health while
they are at work increases their understanding of prostate health
problems. After the project 88% of the employees involved knew that
passing water more often, especially at night, was a possible symptom
of prostate problems, up from 64% before the project. Also, 84% knew
that difficulty in passing water was a possible symptom, up from
72%.
Prostate tumours 'kill one an hour'
Prostate cancer will become the most common cancer in men within the
next three years, according to research. It will overtake lung
cancer, which is becoming less common as men give up smoking. Much of
the increase, especially the surge in recent years, is due to the use
of a test that can detect early signs of the disease, the Institute
of Cancer Research says. Everyman Male Cancer Awareness Month will
feature posters of the comedian Frank Skinner urging men to take
their health more seriously and issuing a warning that prostate
cancer kills one man every hour.
Source: The London Times
Re-Reading Lessons: Seeking a Second
View
According to a 1999 study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University,
about 1.4 percent of tissue samples -- roughly 30,000 a year in the
United States -- are misread so completely that their resulting
pathology reports would have led to inappropriate medical care. Most
of the cases involve cancer. The best protection is a second analysis
of the biopsied cells, a process that requires the glass slide with
the patient's cells to be shipped to a second pathologist. washingtonpost.com
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
The Prostate Plan
When John Stone found out he had prostate cancer, he researched the
conventional interventions, including surgery and radiation, and
quickly learned the harsh truth—they don’t always work, and
can cause impotence and incontinence.
Fresh findings suggest that changes in diet and lifestyle may slow
prostate cancer. If the results hold up, surgery and radiation
won’t be the main choices
Source: Newsweek, 4/22/02 by David Noonan and
Karen Springen. Review the complete article at: www.msnbc.com/news/738421.asp?cp1=1#BODY
New Prostate Cancer Vaccine to Be
Tested
Dr David Peace and colleagues from the University of Illinois at
Chicago speculate that the vaccine, which incorporates a fragment of
the prostate specific antigen (PSA) protein, may be particularly
effective in immunocompromised patients. After five years of
research, the team have revealed that the vaccine causes the release
of cytotoxic T lymphocytes that are selective for PSA-producing
tumour cells. In-vitro experiments showed that such lymphocytes may
be induced from both advanced prostate cancer patients and healthy
controls. The vaccine has been developed to stimulate the immune
systems of patients with a specific immune type common to half of
western populations, and all those involved in the trial will be of
this type. However, similar vaccines designed to target other immune
types are currently under development. The clinical trial will
involve prostate cancer patients at high risk of recurrence, those
with rising PSA levels or those who are being treated for metastatic
cancer. Participants will receive the vaccine either by subcutaneous
injection or by intravenous injection and will continue any
concurrent treatment throughout the study period. Dr Peace said, "The
advantage of these kinds of vaccines is that they can be customised
to each patient, based on his immune type. The specificity of the
vaccine enables the immune system to target the tumour cells with
exquisite precision, with minimal risk of damage to the body's normal
tissues." He added that the technology might also be applicable for
the treatment of certain types of breast cancer.
Source: Experimental Biology 2002 meeting, New
Orleans, 4/21/02.
University Scientist Tests Prostate
Cancer Vaccine
A University of Illinois at Chicago researcher has developed and is
now clinically testing a vaccine that boosts the body's own immune
system in an effort to cure prostate cancer. The trial, sponsored by
the National Cancer Institute, will assess the effectiveness of the
vaccine, created in the laboratory of Dr. David Peace, assistant
professor of medicine, after five years of intensive research.
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
Red Meat Gene Linked with Prostate Cancer
in Study
A gene involved in digesting red meat is also highly active in cells
taken from prostate cancer (news - web sites) tumors--a finding that
could lead to new dietary and chemical treatments to prevent the
disease, researchers said on Wednesday.
Cells removed from prostate tumors showed a nine-fold increase in
activity by a gene called AMACR as compared to healthy cells, a team
of researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore found.
The AMACR fatty acid molecule is found in high levels in dairy and
beef products. The gene of the same name produces an enzyme that
helps break down the fatty acid.
Previous studies have shown that diets high in red meat are linked
with an increased risk of prostate cancer.
The researchers cautioned that it was too early to establish a
link between eating beef and dairy products and prostate cancer, but
said the findings offer a way for scientists to study the
association.
"For years, many of us have believed that diet is somehow linked
to prostate cancer, but we didn't have any molecular clues as to how
this works," Dr. Angelo De Marzo, a cancer and urology specialist who
co-authored the study with colleague William Isaacs, said in a
telephone interview.
"This opens the question, is this gene (activated) because it is
helping to drive prostate cancer growth?" he asked.
Writing in the journal Cancer Research, De Marzo and his
colleagues said they studied more than 6,500 genes and found the
AMACR gene active at unusually high levels in prostate cancer.
They later studied 168 prostate cancer tumors and found that 95%
had high levels of activity by the gene, making it one of the main
biological markers of the cancer.
De Marzo and Isaacs said the AMACR markers might be used to
diagnose prostate cancer and reduce the number of needle biopsies
that patients currently have to undergo.
A prostate biopsy involves inserting a needle via the rectum to
get to the prostate. De Marzo estimated that as many as 15% of the
procedures must be repeated.
It might also be possible to use scans to look for AMACR gene
activity.
"It is a beautiful marker regardless of what role it is playing in
the disease," said Isaacs.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer found in men,
after lung cancer. The American Cancer Society (news - web sites)
estimates that 189,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in
2002 and 30,000 will die of it.
Source: story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020417/hl_nm/prostate_meat
San Diego-Based Biotech Firm Corvas
Explores Using Anthrax to Fight Cancer
The infamous anthrax bacteria, which cut a terrifying swath through
the United States last fall, is now showing promise as a potential
weapon against cancer. One San Diego biotechnology company that is
exploring that potential is Corvas International. The company is
testing a new compound derived from the spore-forming bacteria
Bacillus anthracis in animals, hoping to harness its tremendous
killing power in the battle against breast, prostate and lung
cancer.
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune
Hopkins Scientists Find Genetic Link
Between Diet and Prostate Cancer
Cells taken from prostate cancers show a nine-fold increase in
expression by a gene called AMACR, a team of Hopkins investigators
report in the April 15, 2002, issue of Cancer Research. "This gene
appears to play an important role in breakdown of branched chain
fatty acid molecules such as those found in dairy products and beef,"
said Dr William B Isaacs, professor of urology and oncology at the
Brady Urological Institute and Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
and senior author of this study. The Hopkins scientists caution that
the link, if any, between increased expression of AMACR and eating
beef and dairy foods is unclear and is the focus of ongoing
research.
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
Can New Diet Fight Prostate Cancer?
A new study reports that a diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains
and beans, coupled with exercise and meditation, can help slow, stop,
or even reverse prostate cancer for men in the early stages of the
disease. Dr. Dean Ornish, a clinical professor of medicine at the
University of California-San Francisco, led the study. Ornish, who is
best known for his support of low-fat diets in reversing heart
disease, is now contending that diet changes could also help reverse
prostate cancer.
Source: www.ustoo.org/screamoutput/index.html
New Prostate Cancer Marker Tested
Cells taken from prostate cancer showed a ninefold increase in the
expression of the gene AMACR (alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase). The
Johns Hopkins researchers say AMACR plays an important role in the
metabolism of branched-chain fatty acids that are found in foods such
as beef and dairy produce. Such foods have been linked to prostate
cancer risk in the past. However, Dr William Isaacs and his team say
it is too early to establish a clear link between increased AMACR
expression and a diet high in these foods. The scientists performed a
detailed immunohistochemical analysis of samples from 168 primary
prostate cancer cases. Both prostate cancers and pre-malignant
precursor lesions (high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia)
expressed significantly higher levels of the gene than healthy
prostate tissue. More than 95 per cent of the malignancies expressed
AMACR, making this gene one of the most consistent biological markers
known for prostate cancer. Furthermore, both untreated metastases and
hormone refractory prostate cancers were strongly positive for AMACR.
To extend the utility of this marker Dr Isaacs' team combined
staining for AMACR with staining for a nuclear protein called p63.
This nuclear protein is present in healthy prostate cells but absent
in those that are malignant. On the basis of its consistency and
magnitude for cancer-specific expression, the scientists believe that
AMACR is an important new marker of prostate cancer and that its use
in combination with p63 staining will form the basis for an improved
staining method for the identification of prostate carcinomas. The
team are hopeful that AMACR will open doors to preventative
strategies. "What we've learned about AMACR could not only serve as
an excellent early marker for prostate cancer but also could identify
new dietary or chemical means of preventing the disease," said Dr
Angelo De Marzo, co-author of the study. Reference: Luo et al, Cancer
Research 2002;62:2220-2226
Prostatectomy Outcome Variation
Studies have previously shown that variation exists between hospitals
and surgeons for cancer surgery outcome, but radical prostatectomy
alone has received less attention. Dr Colin Begg and colleagues from
the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the US,
investigated a variety of healt