Archive for: June 2007

Research in mice suggests that a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil and certain types of fish could potentially improve the prognosis of men who are genetically prone to develop prostate cancer.

A novel method of drug delivery to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells has recently been developed. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death for men in the U.S. Current treatments for metastatic prostate cancer (cancer cells that spread to other parts of the body) include hormonal therapy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which frequently have serious side effects.

Cancer sometimes involves processes that should only occur in the embryo being mistakenly reactivated in adult cells. Researchers have exploited this to develop a novel therapeutic strategy. This has led to the development of a new drug, HXR9 that blocks the activity of a group of genes known as the HOX family.

Carriers of a BRCA2 variation specific to Iceland are more likely to develop aggressive and lethal prostate cancer than noncarriers, according to a new study. Mutations in the BRCA2 gene are associated with increased prostate cancer risk, but it has been unclear whether they are related to progression of the disease.

Many African-American men radically underestimate the likelihood that having a needle biopsy for suspected prostate cancer will result in a cancer diagnosis, according to a new study.

The number of tumor cells circulating in the bloodstream of patients with metastatic, hormone-resistant, prostate cancer can predict how they will do with chemotherapy, according to results of an international trial. The findings, if backed by larger studies, could have important implications for designing personalized treatments for this very dangerous type of prostate cancer, says a Jefferson Medical College researcher.

Data from an ongoing study designed to explore the biologic and clinical activity of cancer immunotherapy sipuleucel-T, or Provenge, in patients with early stage recurrent prostate cancer who have a rising serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, but who have not yet developed metastatic disease was presented by researchers. The study showed that sipuleucel-T did not significantly delay the time it took for a patient's PSA to reach a value of 3 ng/ml, the primary endpoint of the study, but it did show a prolongation in prostate-specific antigen doubling time (PSADT).

A new study analyzing men with localized prostate cancer shows that the specialty of the physician they see can influence the type of therapy they ultimately receive. The study found that patients aged 65 to 69 years old who consult a urologist are more likely to undergo surgery to remove the prostate, while those who consult a radiation oncologist and a urologist, regardless of age, usually receive radiation therapy.

Scientists have found a way to identify which men need a second prostate biopsy because they may be harboring life-threatening prostate cancer even though they were given a clean bill of health after their first biopsy.

Flaxseed, an edible seed that is rich in omega 3-fatty acids and fiber-related compounds known as lignans, is effective in halting prostate tumor growth, according to a new study. The seed, which is similar to a sesame seed, may be able to interrupt the chain of events that leads cells to divide irregularly and become cancerous.