PROSTATE CANCER
HOT SHEET
US TOO! INTERNATIONAL
SEPTEMBER 2001
OPTIONS FOR PROSTATE
CANCER IMPROVING
MOST QUALITY-OF-LIFE
RECOVERY AFTER
PROSTATECTOMY
OCCURS EARLY
ABCNews.com
The bad news is that prostate cancer rates are
on the rise, making it the biggest health concern for men over 50. The good news? Experts are getting a better handle on the causes
and treatments for the disease.
“Although most of the recovery after radical
prostatectomy occurs early, recovery of several domains, including urinary and sexual,
continues to improve even beyond 2 years
postoperatively,” concluded researchers after assessing the longitudinal recovery of
quality-of-life (QOL) after radical
prostatectomy in men with localized prostate
cancer.
Prostate cancer is a malignancy that develops in the prostate gland, which maintains the
proper function of the male reproductive tract.
There will be about 198,100 new cases the
United States this year and about 31,500 men
will die of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
At baseline before radical prostatectomy and
postoperatively every 3 months for 1 year
and then every 6 months for up to 48 months
(median, 30 months), the investigators evaluated self-reported health-related QOL
(HRQOL) in 247 men with prostate cancer.
General HRQOL was measured using the
RAND 36-Item Health Survey 1.0 (SF-36)
and prostate-specific HRQOL was measured
using the University of California Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index (UCLA-PCI).
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause
of cancer death in men, exceeded only by lung
cancer.
Turned 40? Get Tested
Men should get tested for prostate cancer starting at age 40, prostate cancer expert Dr. Patrick
C. Walsh told Good Morning America .
Regression analyses determined whether
some men were more likely than others to
have a successful return to baseline functioning after treatment.
By 3 months following surgery, 60% of patients reached baseline in all domains according to results from the SF-36. By 12 months,
the proportion had reached 90%. Overall, the
mean recovery time was 4.5 months for the
SF-36 domains which included physical
function, social function, bodily pain, emotional well-being, energy and fatigue, general health perceptions, and role limitations
due to physical and emotional problems.
At 3, 12, and 30 months, urinary recovery
was achieved by 21%, 56%, and 63% of the
patients, respectively. A return to baseline
“urinary bother” was seen by 80% and occurred at an average of 7 to 8 months following surgery.
(continued on back page)
SEPTEMBER 11 , 2001
TH
“I’ve operated on 750 men under 55, so I believe testing should begin earlier, at 40,” said
Walsh, a urology professor at the Johns
Hopkins Medical Institutions who is thought
by many to be the world’s foremost authority
on prostate cancer.
A man should particularly make sure to get
the test at 40 if prostate cancer runs in his
family — his chances of developing prostate
cancer are two times greater if the patient has
a father or brother with the disease.
Age is also a big factor: Three quarters of all
reported cases occur in men age 65 and older.
As recommended by the Journal of the American Medical Association , men should get their
first test at age 40, their second at 45 and the
third at 50, Walsh said.
(continued on back page)
PROSTATE CANCER PATIENT SUPPORT 1-800-80-US TOO!
PROSTATE CANCER
NEWS YOU CAN USE
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conduct their own research into any person,
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deciding upon any course of action.
**************
PROSTATE CANCER: DIAGNOSTIC BOOST
The Press Association 08/22
Us Too! NEWS 08/23
A molecular fingerprint for prostate cancer could lead to new tests and treatments
for the disease. Researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, used
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sophisticated microarray technology to
analyse the workings of genes in healthy
and cancerous prostate tissue.
Microarrays contain genetic material
which matches up with the chemical elements of particular DNA sequences.
**************
MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD �SCREEN
TOGETHER, LIVE TOGETHER,’ SAYS
CREATOR OF BREAST CANCER STAMP
BusinessWire / HealthWire 09/10
Us Too! NEWS 09/11
The doctor who led the campaign to create the breast-cancer research postage
stamp has launched a new organization
— this time focusing on prostate cancer
and breast cancer screening. Dr. Ernie
Bodai’s new national campaign —
Screen Together, Live Together — encourages couples to get regular breast
cancer and prostate cancer screening
tests. Dr. Bodai had his own personal encounter with cancer last year, when he
was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Out
of that experience, Dr. Bodai and his wife,
Carol, created Screen Together, Live Together.
**************
SUNSHINE “HELPS FIGHT PCA”
The Press Association 08/23
Us Too! NEWS 08/24
Higher levels of exposure to the sun may
give some protection against both the
development and severity of prostate cancer, research says. The finding was made
at the North Staffordshire Hospital,
Stoke-on-Trent, and Keele University
where researchers investigated the effect
of exposure to the sun on the likelihood
of developing prostate cancer. A hospital spokesman said the study, published
in medical journal, The Lancet, had
opened up a new avenue for research into
the disease.
**************
PCA RISK
The Hope Heart Institute 08/23
Us Too! NEWS 08/24
Q: What Is My Risk of Getting Prostate
Cancer If Someone Else in Family Has
Had It?
A: If your brother or father has had prostate cancer, your risk of also ending up
with it is two to three times higher than a
man who does not have any family members with the disease. Another way to
state it: If you have close blood relatives
with prostate cancer, you may have a lifetime prostate cancer risk of 16% to 30%.
Q: What are the risk factors for prostate
cancer?
A: Apart from a diet that’s high in fat,
little is known about the risk factors for
prostate cancer.
Source: Alice Whittemore, PhD, Associate Director of Epidemiology, Stanford
US TOO! PCA HOTSHEET SEPTEMBER 2001
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University School of Medicine
**************
EXISULIND IMPROVES PSA PARAMETERS
OF MEN WITH RECURRENT PCA
Reuters Health 08/16
Us Too! NEWS 08/27
The investigational drug exisulind inhibits the rise in PSA and prolongs PSA doubling time of men with a prostate cancer
recurrence after radical prostatectomy,
according to a report published in the
September issue of the Journal of Urology (J Urol 2001;166:882-886).
Exisulind (Aptosyn) is the first member
of a new class of compounds known as
selective apoptotic antineoplastic drugs.
Findings from previous studies indicate
that exisulind selectively destroys cancerous and precancerous cells, leaving normal cells unscathed. Exisulind-treated
patients had a significantly greater drop
in PSA levels during the study period than
patients in the placebo group. In addition,
the median PSA doubling time was
lengthened in patients treated with
exisulind.
**************
LIQUOR MAY INCREASE PCA RISK
Ivanhoe Broadcast News 08/27
Us Too! NEWS 08/28
Men who regularly drink hard liquor may
be putting themselves at increased risk
for prostate cancer, say Harvard investigators publishing in the International
Journal of Epidemiology (2001;30:749755). An increased risk was not seen,
however, for men who only drank beer
and wine. Investigators followed more
than 7,600 Harvard alumni between 1988
and 1993 and found the men who reported drinking moderate amounts of liquor (about three drinks a week) had
about a 60 percent increased risk of developing prostate cancer. Men who maintained or increased their alcohol consumption between 1977 and 1988 had
twice the prostate cancer risk compared
to those who reported little or no alcohol
consumption during those years. No correlation was seen between drinking in
college and prostate cancer risk.
**************
TOMATO PILLS MIGHT FIGHT PCA
Netdoctor.co.uk / Daily Mail 08/28
Us Too! NEWS 08/28
Tomato pills could be effective in the
fight against prostate cancer. A pill sold
over the counter as Lyc-O-Mato, containing 15mg of tomato lycopene, the substance which makes tomatoes red, were
tested on 30 men with prostate cancer.
Half of the group took the pill twice daily
for three weeks before they were due to
have surgery. After their operations,
it was discovered that the group of men
who had taken the pill had smaller
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tumours than the others, and that the
tumours were less likely to have spread.
An expert at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Professor Omer Kucuk
said: �Our findings suggest that lycopene
as tomato extract may not only help prevent prostate cancer, but also may be useful in treating prostate cancer.’
**************
A POTENTIAL CANCER KILLER?
HealthScout 08/30
Us Too! NEWS 09/01
A technique that uses viruses to halt cell division shows promise for the treatment of a wide
range of cancers, new research says. Swiss
scientists say they’ve shown that a modified,
inactivated adeno-associated virus (AAV) can
selectively kill cancerous cells that have a
faulty gene. If the gene worked properly, it
would keep the cells from dividing unchecked. Mutations in the gene, called p53,
are present in nearly every form of tumor, so
a successful method of selectively destroying cells with the malignant errors would be
a valuable addition to the anti-cancer armory,
experts say. A review of the work appears as
a research letter in the journal Nature. Research letters don’t carry the same weight as
a full, peer-reviewed study, but they are useful ways for scientists to have preliminary
findings published. A so-called tumor suppressor gene, p53 makes a protein called a “transcription factor” that regulates cell division.
But in cancerous tissue, p53 often is handcuffed by a glitch that shuts off the gene. Tumors with a faulty p53 gene have turned up
in the brain, breast, bone, prostate and other
organs in the body. Cancer researchers are
pursuing a number of treatment strategies targeting p53. Some hope to eradicate tumors
by replacing their flawed version of the p53
gene with a normal copy. Others have suggested creating molecules that latch on to and
correct the mutant p53 gene. The latest work
offers an entirely new approach.
**************
VEGF LEVELS SIGNIFY DISEASE IN
PATIENTS WITH HORMONE REFRACTORY
MALIGNANCY
NewsRx.com 08/30
Us Too! NEWS 09/01
Plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth
factor (VEGF) may signal progression and
survival in patients with hormone-refractory
prostate cancer (HRPC), a group of cancer
specialists report. High levels of the angiogenic growth factor VEGF has been identified in the blood of patients with different
types of cancer. Boston, Massachusetts, DanaFarber Cancer Institute researchers, in collaboration with investigators at several major U.S.
research centers, propose plasma levels of
VEGF are a significant indicator for survival
in HRPC patients based on their evaluation
of several Cancer and Leukemia Group B
9480 participants. “Although these data are
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exploratory and need to be confirmed in an
independent data set, they suggest VEGF may
have clinical significance in patients with
HRPC,” concluded George and collaborators.
Several studies have indicated a correlation
between blood component levels of VEGF
and survival in cancer patients * High pretreatment levels of plasma VEGF correlated
with lowered survival in this study of hormone-refractory prostate cancer patients *
VEGF appears to be a prognostic indicator
for survival in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer patients
**************
PCA PATIENTS NOW HAVE NEW OPTION/
TECHNIQUE TEMPORARILY PLACES
RADIOACTIVE SEED ON WIRE INSIDE BODY
The Gazette 09/06
Us Too! NEWS 09/07
Men sifting through the options for treatment
of prostate cancer now have another choice
to consider: high-dose rate brachytherapy.
HDR brachytherapy temporarily places a radioactive source inside the body as close as
possible to the cancer cells, killing those cells
while limiting exposure to normal tissue and
reducing side effects. In the treatment of
prostate cancer, a highly radioactive seed is
attached to a thin wire that is directed by a
robotically controlled arm into tiny catheters
that have been placed into the prostate gland.
Dr. Anuj Peddada, a radiation oncologist who
performs the procedure at Penrose Cancer
Center, stresses that it differs from a permanent seed implant. In a permanent implant,
low-dose radioactive seeds are placed in a
generalized location in the prostate gland. In
HDR therapy, the radioactive source is in the
body for only a few minutes; as indicated by
the name, seeds in a permanent implant remain, leaving the patient mildly radioactive
after the procedure.
**************
DIET & LIFESTYLE THE REASON FOR SO
MANY OKINAWANS LIVING BEYOND 100
Canadian Press 08/27
Us Too! NEWS 8/28
A low-calorie diet abundant in soy, vegetables and fish is being credited for the
fact there are more centenarians in the
world living in Okinawa, southwest of
Japan. A study of 600 residents who are
100 years old or older found that they
share the same lifestyle factors - regular
exercise, moderate alcohol intake, strong
belief systems and social networks. In a
report in the John Hopkins Medical Letter, the study found that Okinawans have
80 per cent fewer heart attacks and 75
per cent fewer cancers of the breast, ovaries and prostate than North Americans.
The Okinawan islands have the highest
proportion of centenarians in the world 33.6 per 100,000 people.
**************
CANCER DIAGNOSIS MAY DEPEND ON
SECOND OPINION
HealthCentral.com / Reuters 08/27
Us Too! NEWS 08/29
Some patients diagnosed with prostate or
bladder cancer may needlessly undergo
radical surgery, according to a report.
Florida researchers looked at 150 patients
diagnosed with prostate or bladder cancer. Their records were referred to one of
the study’s authors, an expert in urological pathology, for a second opinion. According to the study results, nearly 20%
of the second opinions differed in treatment recommendations and diagnosis. In
most instances the pathologist opted for
more conservative therapy than surgery.
In a few cases, he disagreed with the initial diagnosis of cancer. The findings underscore the importance of seeking second opinions in medical matters, note Dr.
William M. Murphy of the University of
Florida College of Medicine in
Gainesville, and colleagues.
**************
MICROCHIPS “ABLE TO SPOT CANCER”
Press Association 08/31
Us Too! NEWS 09/01
Automated microchips that can detect
cancers and many other diseases may be
available within five years. The system
uses ultra-thin silicon cantilevers, half the
width of a human hair and a fraction of a
millimetre long, which flex when protein
molecules attach to them.
**************
COMPUTER HITS CANCER IN THE GENES
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 09/09
Us Too! NEWS 09/10
When completed, the supercomputer being
assembled on the sixth floor of Atlanta’s Midtown area IBM Tower will be one of the most
powerful in the world. Its components — arranged in racks about 7 feet high — will
stretch almost 400 linear feet, longer than a
football field. “It’s like an incredibly fast sports
car,” says Tony Shuker, president of the Life
Sciences division of NuTec Sciences, the Atlanta-based company building the computer.
“It will go whatever speed you want to drive
it, depending on what kind of track you might
be on. But in the absence of a skilled driver,
it’s just a machine.” Dr. Jonathan Simons,
director of the Winship Cancer Institute at
Emory University, can’t wait to get behind
the wheel. Under an agreement announced
in May, Simons and other Winship researchers will use the NuTec computer — built by
IBM and capable of 7.5 trillion calculations a
second — to attack cancer at the genetic level,
and perhaps revolutionize the war on the
nation’s second-biggest cause of death. It
would be, says Shuker, “a paradigm shift in
the way that cancer is diagnosed and treated.”
**************
(continued on page 7)
US TOO! PCA HOTSHEET SEPTEMBER 2001
PROSTATE CANCER PATIENT SUPPORT 1-800-80-US TOO!
SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL
REVIEW - August 2001
The following prostate cancer related
articles have appeared in well-known
scientific journals. Citations and abstracts
can be found at the National Institutes of
Health / National Library of Medicine
sponsored web site called MEDLINE/
PubMed:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi
Please note, Us Too! cannot provide
copies of the complete article.
TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THE
ARTICLE: take the citation to your
local public or hospital library. The
librarian can assist you in obtaining a
copy of the article from their collection
or from interlibrary loan.
****
American Journal of Clinical Pathology
• Reese DM, Small EJ, Magrane G,
Waldman FM, Chew K, Sudilovsky D.
HER2 protein expression and gene
amplification in androgen-independent
prostate cancer. Am J Clin Pathol. 2001
Aug;116(2):234-9. PMID: 11488070
• de Pinieux G, Legrier ME, PoirsonBichat F, Courty Y, Bras-Goncalves R,
Dutrillaux AM, Nemati F, Oudard S,
Lidereau R, Broqua P, Junien JL,
Dutrillaux B, Poupon MF. Clinical and
experimental progression of a new
model of human prostate cancer and
therapeutic approach. Am J Pathol.
2001 Aug;159(2):753-64. PMID:
11485933
American Journal of Hematology
• Ando M, Tamayose K, Sugimoto K,
Oshimi K. Secondary myelodysplastic
syndrome after treatment of prostate
cancer with oral estramustine. Am J
Hematol. 2001 Aug;67(4):274-5. No
abstract available. PMID: 11443646
• Xu J, Zheng SL, Hawkins GA, Faith
DA, Kelly B, Isaacs SD, Wiley KE,
Chang B, Ewing CM, Bujnovszky P,
Carpten JD, Bleecker ER, Walsh PC,
Trent JM, Meyers DA, Isaacs WB.
Linkage and association studies of
prostate cancer susceptibility: evidence
for linkage at 8p22-23. Am J Hum
Genet. 2001 Aug;69(2):341-50. PMID:
11443539
American Journal of Surgical Pathology
• Kronz JD, Allan CH, Shaikh AA,
Epstein JI. Predicting cancer following a diagnosis of high-grade prostatic
intraepithelial neoplasia on needle biopsy: data on men with more than one
follow-up biopsy. Am J Surg Pathol.
2001 Aug;25(8):1079-85. PMID:
11474294
British Journal of Cancer
• Hammond LA, Van Krinks CH,
Durham J, Tomkins SE, Burnett RD,
Jones EL, Chandraratna RA, Brown G.
Antagonists of retinoic acid receptors
(RARs) are potent growth inhibitors of
prostate carcinoma cells. Br J Cancer.
2001 Aug 3;85(3):453-62. PMID:
11487280
• Sidiropoulos M, Chang A, Jung K,
Diamandis EP. Expression and regulation of prostate androgen regulated
transcript-1 (PART-1) and identification of differential expression in
prostatic cancer. Br J Cancer. 2001 Aug
3;85(3):393-7. PMID: 11487271
• Brenner H, Hakulinen T. Long-term
cancer patient survival achieved by the
end of the 20th century: most up-todate estimates from the nationwide
Finnish cancer registry. Br J Cancer.
2001 Aug 3;85(3):367-71. PMID:
11487267
British Journal of Urology International
• Madaan S, Abel PD. Urethral metastasis
after transurethral resection of a malignant
prostate. BJU Int. 2001 Aug;88(3):308. No
abstract available. PMID: 11488765
• Kawanishi Y, Lee KS, Kimura K, Kojima
K, Yamamoto A, Numata A. Effect of radical retropubic prostatectomy on erectile
function, evaluated before and after surgery
using colour Doppler ultrasonography and
nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring.
BJU Int. 2001 Aug;88(3):244-7. PMID:
11488738
• Wymenga LF, Groenier K, Schuurman J,
Boomsma JH, Elferink RO, Mensink HJ.
Pretreatment levels of urinary
deoxypyridinoline as a potential marker in
patients with prostate cancer with or without bone metastasis. BJU Int. 2001
Aug;88(3):231-5. PMID: 11488735
• Wymenga LF, Boomsma JH, Groenier K,
Piers DA, Mensink HJ.Routine bone scans
in patients with prostate cancer related to
serum prostate-specific antigen and alkaline phosphatase. BJU Int. 2001
Aug;88(3):226-30. PMID: 11488734
• Melchior SW, Noteboom J, Gillitzer R,
Lange PH, Blumenstein BA, Vessella RL.
The percentage of free prostate-specific
antigen does not predict extracapsular disease in patients with clinically localized
prostate cancer before radical
prostatectomy. BJU Int. 2001
Aug;88(3):221-5. PMID: 11488733
• Hindley RG, Mostafid AH, Brierly RD,
Harrison NW, Thomas PJ, Fletcher MS.
The 2-year symptomatic and urodynamic
results of a prospective randomized trial of
interstitial radiofrequency therapy vs tran-
US TOO! PCA HOTSHEET SEPTEMBER 2001
US TOO! INTERNATIONAL
surethral resection of the prostate. BJU Int.
2001 Aug;88(3):217-20. PMID: 11488732
Cancer
• Vis AN, Hoedemaeker RF, Roobol M,
Schroder FH, van der Kwast TH. The predictive value for prostate cancer of lesions
that raise suspicion of concomitant carcinoma: an evaluation from a randomized,
population-based study of screening for
prostate cancer. Cancer. 2001 Aug
1;92(3):524-34. PMID: 11505396
Cancer Nursing
• Salmenpera L, Suominen T, Lauri S,
Puukka P. Attitudes of patients with
breast and prostate cancer toward
complementary therapies in Finland.
Cancer Nurs. 2001 Aug;24(4):328-34.
PMID: 11502043
Cancer Research
• Rokman A, Ikonen T, Mononen N,
Autio V, Matikainen MP, Koivisto PA,
Tammela TL, Kallioniemi OP,
Schleutker J. ELAC2/HPC2 involvement in hereditary and sporadic
prostate cancer. Cancer Res. 2001 Aug
15;61(16):6038-41. PMID: 11507049
• Xiao Z, Adam BL, Cazares LH,
Clements
MA,
Davis
JW,
Schellhammer PF, Dalmasso EA,
Wright GL Jr. Quantitation of serum
prostate-specific membrane antigen by
a novel protein biochip immunoassay
discriminates benign from malignant
prostate disease. Cancer Res. 2001 Aug
15;61(16):6029-33. PMID: 11507047
• Malins DC, Johnson PM, Wheeler TM,
Barker EA, Polissar NL, Vinson MA.
Age-related radical-induced DNA
damage is linked to prostate cancer.
Cancer
Res.
2001
Aug
15;61(16):6025-8. PMID: 11507046
• Welsh JB, Sapinoso LM, Su AI, Kern
SG, Wang-Rodriguez J, Moskaluk CA,
Frierson HF Jr, Hampton GM. Analysis of gene expression identifies candidate markers and pharmacological
targets in prostate cancer. Cancer Res.
2001 Aug 15;61(16):5974-8. PMID:
11507037
• Yasunaga Y, Nakamura K, Ewing CM,
Isaacs WB, Hukku B, Rhim JS. A novel
human cell culture model for the study
of familial prostate cancer. Cancer Res.
2001 Aug 15;61(16):5969-73. PMID:
11507036
• Magee JA, Araki T, Patil S, Ehrig T,
True L, Humphrey PA, Catalona WJ,
Watson MA, Milbrandt J. Expression
profiling reveals hepsin overexpression
in prostate cancer. Cancer Res. 2001
Aug 1;61(15):5692-6. PMID:
11479199
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Clinical Chemistry
• Semjonow A, Oberpenning F, Weining
C, Schon M, Brandt B, De Angelis G,
Heinecke A, Hamm M, Stieber P,
Hertle L, Schmid HP. Do modifications
of nonequimolar assays for total
prostate-specific antigen improve detection of prostate cancer? Clin Chem.
2001 Aug;47(8):1472-5.PMID:
11468242
• Nurmikko P, Pettersson K, Piironen T,
Hugosson J, Lilja H. Discrimination of
prostate cancer from benign disease by
plasma measurement of intact, free
prostate-specific antigen lacking an
internal cleavage site at Lys145Lys146.
Clin
Chem.
2001
Aug;47(8):1415-23. PMID: 11468231
International Journal of Cancer
• Cancel-Tassin G, Latil A, Valeri A,
Guillaume E, Mangin P, Fournier G,
Berthon P, Cussenot O. No evidence
of linkage to HPC20 on chromosome
20q13 in hereditary prostate cancer. Int
J Cancer. 2001 Aug 1;93(3):455-6. No
abstract available. PMID: 11433415
International Journal of Radiation
Oncology Biology Physics
• de Boer HC, Heijmen BJ. A protocol
for the reduction of systematic patient
setup errors with minimal portal imaging workload. Int J Radiat Oncol
Biol Phys. 2001 Aug 1;50(5):1350-65.
PMID: 11483348
• Merrick GS, Butler WM, Lief JH,
Galbreath RW. Five-year biochemical
outcome after prostate brachytherapy
for hormone-naive men < or = 62 years
of age. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys.
2001 Aug 1;50(5):1253-7. PMID:
11483336
• Pilepich MV, Winter K, John MJ,
Mesic JB, Sause W, Rubin P, Lawton
C, Machtay M, Grignon D. Phase III
radiation therapy oncology group
(RTOG) trial 86-10 of androgen deprivation adjuvant to definitive radiotherapy in locally advanced carcinoma
of the prostate. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol
Phys. 2001 Aug 1;50(5):1243-52.
PMID: 11483335
• Potters L, Torre T, Fearn PA, Leibel
SA, Kattan MW. Potency after permanent prostate brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol
Biol Phys. 2001 Aug 1;50(5):1235-42.
PMID: 11483334
• Martinez AA, Yan D, Lockman D,
Brabbins D, Kota K, Sharpe M, Jaffray
DA, Vicini F, Wong J. Improvement in
dose escalation using the process of
adaptive radiotherapy combined with
three-dimensional conformal or intenP.
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sity-modulated beams for prostate cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2001
Aug 1;50(5):1226-34. PMID:
11483333
• Do T, Dave G, Parker R, Kagan AR.
Serum PSA evaluations during salvage
radiotherapy for post-prostatectomy
biochemical failures as prognosticators
for treatment outcomes. Int J Radiat
Oncol Biol Phys. 2001 Aug
1;50(5):1220-5. PMID: 11483332
• Taylor JM, Griffith KA, Sandler HM.
Definitions of biochemical failure in
prostate cancer following radiation
therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys.
2001 Aug 1;50(5):1212-9. PMID:
11483331
• Smathers S, Wallner K, Sprouse J, True
L. Temporary PSA rises and repeat
prostate biopsies after brachytherapy.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2001 Aug
1;50(5):1207-11. PMID: 11483330
Journal of Clinical Oncology
• Quinn DI, Henshall SM, Haynes AM,
Brenner PC, Kooner R, Golovsky D,
Mathews J, O’Neill GF, Turner JJ,
Delprado W, Finlayson JF, Sutherland
RL, Grygiel JJ, Stricker PD. Prognostic significance of pathologic features
in localized prostate cancer treated with
radical prostatectomy: implications for
staging systems and predictive models. J Clin Oncol. 2001 Aug
15;19(16):3692-705. PMID: 11504751
Journal of Internal Medicine
• Cheema P, El-Mefty O, Jazieh AR. Intraoperative haemorrhage associated
with the use of extract of Saw Palmetto
herb: a case report and review of literature. J Intern Med. 2001
Aug;250(2):167-9. Review. PMID:
11489067
Journal of The Nat’l Cancer Institute
• Polednak AP. Re: Association of African-American ethnic background with
survival in men with metastatic
prostate cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst.
2001 Aug 1;93(15):1174-5. No abstract
available. PMID: 11481391
• Hoedemaeker RF, van der Kwast TH,
Boer R, de Koning HJ, Roobol M, Vis
AN, Schroder FH. Pathologic features
of prostate cancer found at populationbased screening with a four-year interval. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2001 Aug
1;93(15):1153-8. PMID: 11481387
• Miller M. Enrollment begins for largest-ever prostate cancer prevention
trial. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2001 Aug
1;93(15):1132. PMID: 11481383
Journal of Urology
• Li LC, Zhao H, Nakajima K, Oh BR,
Filho LA, Carroll P, Dahiya R. Methy-
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
lation of the E-cadherin gene promoter
correlates with progression of prostate
cancer. J Urol. 2001 Aug;166(2):7059. PMID: 11458121
Weckermann D, Muller P, Wawroschek
F, Harzmann R, Riethmuller G,
Schlimok G. Disseminated cytokeratin
positive tumor cells in the bone marrow of patients with prostate cancer:
detection and prognostic value. J Urol.
2001 Aug;166(2):699-703. PMID:
11458120
Guo C, Geverd D, Liao R, Hamad N,
Counter CM, Price DT. Inhibition of
telomerase is related to the life span
and tumorigenicity of human prostate
cancer cells. J Urol. 2001
Aug;166(2):694-8. PMID: 11458119
Kaufman JM. Re: Factors predicting
recovery of erections after radical
prostatectomy. J Urol. 2001
Aug;166(2):634. PMID: 11458107
Pitts WR Jr. Re: Medical versus surgical androgen suppression therapy for
prostate cancer: a 10-year longitudinal
cost study. J Urol. 2001
Aug;166(2):632. PMID: 11458103
Jani A, Vogelzang NJ. Re: Neoadjuvant
hormonal ablative therapy before radical prostatectomy: a review. Is it indicated? J Urol. 2001 Aug;166(2):6312. PMID: 11458102
Lin DC, Lin YM, Tong YC. Emphysematous prostatic abscess after transurethral microwave thermotherapy. J Urol.
2001 Aug;166(2):625. No abstract
available. PMID: 11458093
Matlaga BR, Hall MC, Stindt D, Torti
FM. Response of hormone refractory
prostate cancer to lycopene. J Urol.
2001 Aug;166(2):613. No abstract
available. PMID: 11458084
Litwin MS, Melmed GY, Nakazon T.
Life after radical prostatectomy: a longitudinal study. J Urol. 2001
Aug;166(2):587-92. PMID: 11458073
Ruiz-Deya G, Davis R, Srivastav SK,
M Wise A, Thomas R. Outpatient radical prostatectomy: impact of standard
perineal approach on patient outcome.
J Urol. 2001 Aug;166(2):581-6. PMID:
11458072
Martin-Morales A, Sanchez-Cruz JJ,
Saenz de Tejada I, Rodriguez-Vela L,
Jimenez-Cruz JF, Burgos-Rodriguez R.
Prevalence and independent risk factors for erectile dysfunction in Spain:
results of the Epidemiologia de la
Disfuncion Erectil Masculina Study. J
Urol. 2001 Aug;166(2):569-74; discussion 574-5. PMID: 11458070
Sexton WJ, Lance RE, Reyes AO,
Pisters PW, Tu SM, Pisters LL. Adult
prostate sarcoma: the M. D. Anderson
Cancer Center Experience. J Urol.
US TOO! PCA HOTSHEET SEPTEMBER 2001
PROSTATE CANCER PATIENT SUPPORT 1-800-80-US TOO!
PCA NEWS YOU CAN USE
(continued from P. 3)
AUSTRALIA’S NOVOGEN TO STEP UP
ANTI-CANCER DRUG DEVELOPMENT
Asia Pulse 08/30
Us Too! NEWS 9/01
Sydney-based Novogen Ltd is set to fast
track the clinical development of its anticancer drug phenoxodiol, with further trials targeting men with advanced prostate
cancer due to start soon. The results to
date from human clinical trials of
phenoxodiol were such that the board was
supporting the fast tracking of its clinical
development. The anti-cancer compound
has progressed to human clinical trials in
Australia and the United States.
**************
WHAT SOURCE OF OMEGA-3 IS BEST?
The Saturday Evening Post 09/01
Us Too! NEWS 09/04
According to Dr. Andrew Stoll, director
of the Psychopharmacology Research
Laboratory at Harvard Medical SchoolMcLean Hospital the best source of
omega-3 is fish oil over flax oil. Flaxseed
contains high concentrations of the
shorter chain omega-3 fatty acid alphalinolenic acid (ALA). There is evidence
now that flaxseed oil may be dangerous
at high doses. Four epidemiological studies have shown that an excessive amount
of ALA in your system is associated with
prostate cancer, whereas fish oil is not. If
you try to consume enough omega-3s
from more than two or three tablespoons
a day of flaxseeds, there is a thyroid toxic
compound in the seed husks that can
cause a goiter and low thyroid function.
**************
STUDY ADDS EVIDENCE OF PROTECTIVE
ACTIVITY OF LYCOPENE, ESPECIALLY IN
BLACK MEN
NewsRx.com 09/06
Us Too! NEWS 09/07
A new study involving African-American
men, who as a group have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world, provides further evidence that lycopene, a chemical found in abundance in tomato sauce, may
help prevent or slow the development of the
disease. The clinical study, which was reported at the 222nd national meeting of the
American Chemical Society, focuses primarily on black men, who are often
underrepresented as clinical subjects. It is also
the first to link the effect of tomato sauce consumption to a reduction of human DNA damage, considered a marker for increased cancer risk, according to the researchers. Researchers at the University of Illinois in Chicago fed 32 volunteers with newly diagnosed
prostate cancer three-fourths cup of tomato
sauce daily for three weeks. The majority of
the 24 subjects were black. In addition to
causing significant reductions in DNA damage to prostate cancer cells and leukocytes
(white blood cells), the treatment resulted in
reduced blood levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein whose increased levels are strongly linked to a higher PCa risk,
according to the researchers. “This study does
not say that tomato sauce reduces cancer,”
cautions Phyllis E. Bowen, PhD, a nutritionist at the university and lead investigator in
the study. “It says that it reduces DNA damage that we think is associated with cancer.”
**************
MEN’S HEALTH PUBLICATIONS RECOMMEND
SOY, VITAMIN E TO HELP PREVENT PCA
PR Newswire 08/28
Us Too! NEWS 08/29
Vitamin E and soy products are being recommended by men’s health publications as
key elements in anti-cancer diets to help prevent prostate cancer. “ ... Key nutrients may
slash your risk of ever getting prostate cancer,” the magazine Men’s Health says in its
August issue. Natural-source Vitamin E is recommended — “recent studies suggest that
Vitamin E in its natural form is most effective at combating cancer,” the magazine said.
It also cited use of Vitamin E as an antioxidant to be “especially important” for men who
smoke. “In a study of male smokers,” the
magazine reported, “those who supplemented
with 50 international units (IU) of Vitamin E
daily had a prostate cancer rate 34 percent
lower than that of men who didn’t supplement.” The article by writer Melissa Gotthardt
advised men to take a daily supplement of
200 IU of Vitamin E and also to “substitute
E-rich oils for other fats in your diet.” On
soyfoods, the article noted that Japanese men
have 10 to 15 times lower prostate cancer rates
than American men. “Many scientists credit
soy, a staple of Asian diets,” the magazine
said. “Researchers say that as little as a serving a day — a half cup of soy milk on cereal
— can make a difference.” A companion publication, the “Men’s Health Total Body
Guide,” also recommends soy isoflavones as
helping to prevent prostate cancer. “Countless studies suggest that soy can both help
prevent prostate cancer and lower your cholesterol levels,” the guide said. Isoflavones
are naturally-occurring substances found in
soybeans that have been credited with helping prevent prostate cancer in particular, the
publication said, citing findings by Dr. Gregory L. Burke, professor at the Wake Forest
University School of Medicine in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
**************
DNA DAMAGE AS MEN AGE IS LINKED
TO INCREASED RISK
NewsRx.com 09/06
Us Too! NEWS 09/07
US TOO! PCA HOTSHEET SEPTEMBER 2001
US TOO! INTERNATIONAL
New evidence links progressive increases in
DNA damage of the prostate with increasing
age, resulting in increased risk for prostate
cancer. This DNA damage results from free
radicals that are by-products of hormone metabolism. Curiously, low levels of mutagenic
damage, which are detectable shortly after
adolescence, tend to be neutralized by other
nonmutagenic changes in DNA that arise simultaneously, according to the lead investigator Dr. Donald C. Malins of the Pacific
Northwest Research Institute in Seattle, Washington. Malins’ research shows that the mutagenic damage increases progressively with
age while the corresponding nonmutagenic
damage decreases, such that, at about age 60,
the balance tips in favor of prostate cancer.
This coincides with the known sharp increase in prostate cancer incidence at this
age. Malins and his colleagues also found
that the DNA profiles of some older men
mirrored the damage profiles they observed in prostate cancer. The results of
the study were published in the August
15, 2001, issue of Cancer Research. One
key to controlling radical damage to DNA
may well lie in our lifestyle - notably, in
what we eat. Free radicals, Malins notes,
can be destroyed by antioxidants found
abundantly in fruits and vegetables.
**************
WORSENING ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
MAY SIGNAL UNDERLYING CARDIOVASCULAR PROBLEM
Reuters Health 08/30
Us Too! NEWS 09/04
If a man experiences worsening erectile
dysfunction while he is using sildenafil
(Viagra), he may have an underlying cardiovascular condition that requires attention, according to Dr. Kevin L. Billups,
of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. In a recent study, Dr. Rizk ElGalley and associates found that some patients who initially respond to sildenafil
may experience reduced efficacy over the
next 2 years. After reading this article,
“my first thought was, �I hope this doesn’t
cloud the message that, if a patient’s erectile status worsens, there’s probably
something else going on,’” Billups
rrecommends that physicians check for
underlying conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
There may also be behavioral issues, such
as smoking or alcohol overuse.
**************
VIAGRA MAY NOT WORK LONG-TERM
FOR SOME PATIENTS
HealthCentral 08/30
Us Too! NEWS 09/04
Viagra, the popular anti-impotence drug,
may stop working for many patients after 2 years, the results of a study suggest.
“In general, 81% of patients who were
P.
6
US TOO! INTERNATIONAL
still receiving treatment were satisfied,
and 92% were able to achieve and maintain erections sufficient for sexual intercourse in more than 50% of attempts,” ElGalley and colleagues write in The Journal of Urology. Of the 39 patients who
had stopped taking Viagra, 28 had initially
reported a good response. Fourteen of
those patients who stopped said the drug
no longer worked, and six said they had
regained the ability to have spontaneous
erections.
**************
RISE IN PSA AND POSITIVE BIOPSIES
AFTER BRACHYTHERAPY MAY NOT
SIGNAL CANCER PERSISTENCE
NewsRx.com 09/06
Us Too! NEWS 09/07
After undergoing radiation therapy to treat
prostate cancer, it’s possible for a patient
to have a rise in his serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and a positive
postimplant biopsy, but not have a
recurrence of the cancer, according to a
new study published in the August 2001
issue of the Int’l Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology and Physics. Kent
Wallner, MD, of the Radiation Oncology
Department at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle advises other
physicians to proceed cautiously before
advising patients to undergo a salvage
prostatectomy after brachytherapy. “The
key is to alert doctors to this possibility to
save their patients a horrendous procedure
they may not need.”
**************
PHASE 3 STUDY SHOWS STATISTICALLY
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN ERECTILE
FUNCTION IN PTS TREATED WITH TOPIGLAN
PR Newswire 09/05
Us Too! NEWS 09/07
MacroChem Corp announced that its investigational topical drug for erectile dysfunction, Topiglan(R), achieved statistical
significance in both total erectile-function
score and improvement in erectile function versus control among patients conforming to protocol in a recently completed Phase 3 clinical trial. In addition
to a statistically significant improvement
in erectile function, early results from the
Phase 3 study show that, at the end of the
treatment period, more patients using
Topiglan than control were able to reach
a grade 3 or 4 erection, and were therefore able to obtain adequate rigidity for
vaginal penetration. A grade 4 erection is
defined as maximum rigidity on a 0 to 4
point scale. However, the study showed
positive direction but not statistical significance in the ability to maintain erection to completion of intercourse, a benchmark typically required for approval of an
ED drug.
P.
7
VISIT US ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.USTOO.ORG
JOURNAL REVIEWS
(continued from P. 5)
2001 Aug;166(2):521-5. PMID:
11458058
• Spetz AC, Hammar M, Lindberg B,
Spangberg A, Varenhorst E. Prospective evaluation of hot flashes during
treatment with parenteral estrogen or
complete androgen ablation for metastatic carcinoma of the prostate. J
Urol. 2001 Aug;166(2):517-20.
PMID: 11458057
• Walsh PC, DeWeese TL, Eisenberger
MA. A structured debate: immediate
versus deferred androgen suppression
in prostate cancer-evidence for deferred treatment. J Urol. 2001
Aug;166(2):508-15; discussion 5156. PMID: 11458056
• Gleave ME, Goldenberg SL, Chin JL,
Warner J, Saad F, Klotz LH, Jewett
M, Kassabian V, Chetner M, Dupont
C, Van Rensselaer S. Randomized
comparative study of 3 versus 8month neoadjuvant hormonal therapy
before radical prostatectomy: biochemical and pathological effects. J
Urol. 2001 Aug;166(2):500-6; discussion 506-7. PMID: 11458055
• Talcott JA, Clark JA, Stark PC,
Mitchell SP. Long-term treatment related complications of brachytherapy
for early prostate cancer: a survey of
patients previously treated. J Urol.
2001 Aug;166(2):494-9. PMID:
11458054
• Han M, Partin AW, Piantadosi S,
Epstein JI, Walsh PC. Era specific biochemical recurrence-free survival following radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer. J Urol.
2001 Aug;166(2):416-9. PMID:
11458039
• Epstein JI, Potter SR. The pathological interpretation and significance of
prostate needle biopsy findings: implications and current controversies.
J Urol. 2001 Aug;166(2):402-10. Review. PMID: 11458037
Prostate
• Valencia S, Hernandez-Angeles A,
Soria-Jasso LE, Arias-Montano JA.
Histamine H(1) receptor activation inhibits the proliferation of human
prostatic adenocarcinoma DU-145
cells. Prostate. 2001 Aug 1;48(3):17987. PMID: 11494333
• Shekarriz B, Upadhyay J, Bianco FJ
Jr, Tefilli MV, Tiguert R, Gheiler EL,
Grignon DJ, Pontes JE, Wood DP Jr.
Impact of preoperative serum PSA
level from 0 to 10 ng/ml on pathological findings and disease-free survival
after radical prostatectomy. Prostate.
2001 Aug 1;48(3):136-43. PMID:
11494329
Urolology
• Aronson WJ, Glaspy JA, Reddy ST,
Reese D, Heber D, Bagga D. Modulation of omega-3/omega-6 polyunsaturated ratios with dietary fish oils in men
with prostate cancer. Urology. 2001
Aug;58(2):283-8. PMID: 11489728
• Grossfeld GD, Chaudhary UB, Reese
DM, Carroll PR, Small EJ. Intermittent androgen deprivation: update of
cycling characteristics in patients without clinically apparent metastatic
prostate cancer. Urology. 2001
Aug;58(2):240-5. PMID: 11489710
• Zagars GK, Pollack A, von Eschenbach
AC. Addition of radiation therapy to
androgen ablation improves outcome
for subclinically node-positive prostate
cancer. Urology. 2001 Aug;58(2):2339. PMID: 11489709
• Soulie M, Aziza R, Escourrou G,
Seguin P, Tollon C, Molinier L,
Bachaud J, Joffre F, Plante P. Assessment of the risk of positive surgical
margins with pelvic phased-array magnetic resonance imaging in patients
with clinically localized prostate cancer: a prospective study. Urology. 2001
Aug;58(2):228-32. PMID: 11489708
• Taneja SS, Tran K, Lepor H. Volumespecific cutoffs are necessary for reproducible application of prostate-specific antigen density of the transition
zone in prostate cancer detection. Urology. 2001 Aug;58(2):222-7. PMID:
11489705
• Soulie M, Seguin P, Benoit J,
Escourrou G, Tollon C, Vazzoler N,
Pontonnier F, Plante P. Impact of a
modified apical dissection during radical retropubic prostatectomy on the
occurrence of positive surgical margins: a comparative study in 212 patients. Urology. 2001 Aug;58(2):21721. PMID: 11489704
• Wirth M, Tyrrell C, Wallace M,
Delaere KP, Sanchez-Chapado M,
Ramon J, Hetherington J, Pina F,
Heynes CF, Borchers TM, Morris T,
Stone A. Bicalutamide (Casodex) 150
mg as immediate therapy in patients
with localized or locally advanced
prostate cancer significantly reduces
the risk of disease progression. Urology. 2001 Aug;58(2):146-51. PMID:
11489683
• Brawer MK, Stamey TA, Fowler J,
Droller M, Messing E, Fair WR. Perspectives on prostate cancer diagnosis
and treatment: a roundtable. Urology.
2001 Aug;58(2):135-40. PMID:
11489681
US TOO! PCA HOTSHEET SEPTEMBER 2001
QUALITY OF LIFE
(continued from P. 1)
At 1 and 2 years postoperatively, baseline
values for sexual function were achieved by
33% and 42% of patients, respectively.
Baseline values for “sexual bother” were
achieved by 51% and 60%.
As compared with married men, unmarried
men were more likely to regain baseline
sexual function (P=.03) and urinary function
(P=.07). Additionally, patients aged 65 years
were more likely to return to baseline “sexual
bother” values as compared with younger
men (P=.03).
larged prostate, or prostatitis, an inflammation. Both are highly treatable infections.
But Walsh says each man is different, and
lifestyle is more important.
Race and Diet Factors
“I tell my patients to think of the worst-case
scenario of the treatment, rather than the best,”
he says. “If the worst happened, could they
live with the side effects of the treatment?”
Race can also be factor in a man’s likelihood
of developing prostate cancer. African-American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world, while Asian men have Radical surgery is the best chance of eradicating cancer, but there is a risk of impotency
the lowest risk.
and incontinence. For some men in their 50s,
Although doctors do not know for certain why that’s an acceptable risk, but for sexually acsome races have higher rates, diet may play a tive men, radiation might be preferable. Men
role, since Asians who move to the United over 70 might not want to deal with the canStates and adopt a Western diet have higher cer, as the treatment might be more intrusive
than the disease.
rates than their counterparts in Asia.
“It is important not only to tell patients what
the chances are for meaningful HRQOL recovery, but also to share with them the interval for anticipated recovery,” the authors suggested. (Litwin M, et al. J Urol 2001;166:587-
For African-American men, the higher rates
could be attributed their dark skin color, which
does not soak up as much Vitamin D from
the sun, leading to a deficiency, Walsh says.
92.)
Other experts believe that it may be due to
health-care differences. Swedish men, for instance, have a high rate of death due to prostate cancer because there is virtually no screening in their country.
PCA OPTIONS IMPROVING
(continued from P. 1)
The safest type of screening involves both a
Prostate Specific Antigen and a rectal exam,
since 25 percent of men who have cancer will
have a low PSA. If the PSA test and/or rectal
exam have caused the doctor concern, biopsies are needed, Walsh said.
“We don’t know how to prevent it, but we
know how to test for it, and treat it,” he says.
“It’s not something to play around with.”
Not every irregularity is cancer. It could be a
benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is an en-
In any case, Walsh recommends an Asian diet:
“The low rates of prostate cancer in Asia is
reason enough to make some dietary
changes,” Walsh says. “I recommend a diet
low in red meat and dairy, and rich with fruits,
vegetables, soy and antioxidants.”
Impotency, the worst-case scenario for many
men, is relatively equal with any of the treatments, Walsh said. The prostate is not required
for fertility or potency, but men who undergo
treatment for prostate cancer should be prepared to lose their ability to have an erection.
Running along each side of the prostate is a
nerve bundle responsible for erection. Impotence, the loss of sexual function, may occur
as a result of damage to these nerves either
from surgery or radiation therapy. Over time,
potency may return and Viagra can help.
In the future, Walsh says he expects to see
new hormonal treatments, along with more
research into diet and into the molecular mechanics of cancer cells.
Treatment Depends on Lifestyle
As a general rule of thumb about age and treatment, many doctors say that a man in his 50s
should have surgery, in his 60s should have
radiation, and in his 70s should manage the
cancer rather than treat it.
Families coping with prostate cancer should
make sure they take care of themselves and
not get exhausted, because the patient will
need them throughout the process, he said.
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