INSIDE THIS ISSUE Link Found Between Common Sexual Infection and • Risk of Aggressive Prostate Cancer
• Every Mustache Makes a Difference
New Web-Based Us TOO Prostate Cancer Support • Community
• Soy Pills Fail to Prevent Bone Loss
Men Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in Recent • Years Have Better Survival Outcomes
• Getting Closer to the Origins of Prostate Cancer
• Protein Tied with Aggressive Prostate Cancer
• 5th Annual Chicago SEA Blue Prostate Cancer Walk
Doc Moyad’s “What Works and What Is Worthless • Column”— For BPH, Drugs Are Better than Herbs
Estrogen Deficiency Webinar Archive, Transcript • Now Available
• The Doctor’s Note — Gerald Chodak, MD
Medivation Announces Initiation of Phase 3 Clinical • Trial of MDV3100 in Advanced Prostate Cancer • Letter to the Editor November 2009 LINK FOUND BETWEEN EVERY MOUSTACHE MAKES NEW WEB-BASED US TOO COMMON SEXUAL INFEC- A DIFFERENCE PROSTATE CANCER TION AND RISK OF AGGRES- SUPPORT COMMUNITY SIVE PROSTATE CANCER A new study from Harvard School of Movember is the month formerly Public Health (HSPH) and Brigham known as November where men grow and Women’s Hospital researchers has a moustache for 30 days to raise found a strong association between the awareness and funds to help find a common sexually transmitted infec- cure for prostate and testicular cancer. tion, Trichomonas vaginalis, and risk of advanced and lethal prostate cancer The money raised by Movember in the in men. The study was published US is split between the Prostate Cancer online ahead of print on 9 September Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Us TOO International is pleased to 2009 in the Journal of the National Foundation, so if you want to raise announce the launch of our new online Cancer Institute. Website. funds for research, here’s one way to community, the Us TOO Prostate do it! Visit
THIS ISSUE OF THE US TOO PROSTATE CANCER SOY PILLS FAIL TO PREVENT BONE LOSS HOTSHEET IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM Soy protein extracts showed no evi- age, and CTX levels were much more dence of preventing bone loss in post- predictive of BMD loss, she said. menopausal women in two placebo- The other study, led by Silvina Levis, controlled trials, researchers reported MD, of the University of Miami, here at the American Society for Bone found no effect on a biomarker of and Mineral Research (ASBMR) bone resorption after two years of meeting (Abstract SA0412). treatment with placebo or 200 mg/day AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU! In one trial with 224 participants, very of soy isoflavone pills (Abstract similar declines in lumbar spine and MO0374). ITEMS CONTAINED IN US TOO PUBLICATIONS ARE hip bone mineral density (BMD) were OBTAINED FROM VARIOUS NEWS SOURCES AND EDITED Participants were 248 postmenopausal FOR INCLUSION. WHERE AVAILABLE, A POINT-OF- seen after three years in women taking women, average 53 years old, about CONTACT IS PROVIDED. the soy pills and those taking placebo. two-thirds of whom were Hispanic REFERENCES TO PERSONS, COMPANIES, PRODUCTS OR The other study found that levels of a SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND whites. Levis and colleagues reported ARE NOT ENDORSEMENTS. READERS SHOULD CONDUCT biomarker of bone resorption were that levels of urinary N-telopeptide of THEIR OWN RESEARCH INTO ANY PERSON, COMPANY, virtually identical after two years of type I bone collagen (NTx) – like PRODUCT OR SERVICE, AND CONSULT WITH THEIR LOVED high-dose soy extracts versus placebo. ONES AND PERSONAL PHYSICIAN BEFORE DECIDING ON CTX a measure of bone resorption – ANY COURSE OF ACTION. Previous studies had yielded conflict- did not differ between treatment THE INFORMATION AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN ing results as to whether the isofla- groups after one and two years of THIS PUBLICATION ARE NOT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY MEDICAL TREATMENT, PRODUCT SERVICE vones in soybeans prevented bone loss. treatment. The study – called SPARE OR COURSE OF ACTION BY US TOO INTERNA- A retrospective Chinese study reported (Soy Phytoestrogen As Replacement TIONAL, INC., ITS OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS, OR THE EDITORS OF THIS PUBLICATION. FOR MEDICAL, in 2005 had found a strong preventive Estrogen) -- also included measure- LEGAL OR OTHER ADVICE, PLEASE CONSULT PROFES- effect in women who had consumed ments of lumbar spine and hip BMD, SIONAL(S) OF YOUR CHOICE. large quantities of soy foods. but those data were not reported here. HOTSHEET EDITORIAL TEAM: “I think we can close the door on this Peter Burckhardt, MD, who studied JONATHAN MCDERMED, PHARMD PAMELA BARRETT issue,” declared the first study’s nutrition and endocrinology at the THOMAS N. KIRK leader, D. Lee Alekel, PhD, of Iowa University Hospital of Lausanne in GEORGE LEDWITH, BOARD REPRESENTATIVE State University in Ames, IA. Alekel Switzerland until his recent retirement, US TOO INTERNATIONAL STAFF & CONSULTANTS: said an earlier study in her own lab said the studies’ findings did not sur- THOMAS N. KIRK, PRESIDENT AND CEO had found a modest benefit in peri- prise him. “The overall evidence in the PAMELA BARRETT, DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TERRI GIBBONS, CHAPTER SERVICES PROGRAM menopausal women. But other studies literature is negative,” he said. Burck- MANAGER had either failed to find any benefit for hardt said one of the earlier studies JAQUELINE KONIECZKA, OFFICE MANAGER RYAN MAGUIRE, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR the soy extracts or were marred by that purported to find a benefit was ELIZABETH CABALKA, PROGRAM CONSULTANT small numbers of participants or other misleading. US TOO BOARD OF DIRECTORS: limitations. “[It] was published in a high-ranking EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE/OFFICERS Alekel’s study randomized 224 journal with an attractive title that it FRED MILLS, CHAIRMAN GEORGE LEDWITH, VICE-CHAIRMAN healthy postmenopausal women, mean worked. But when you go into the data CARL FRANKEL, SECRETARY age 54, to take placebo or 80 or 120 you discover that it worked only in a GREGORY BIELAWSKI, TREASURER mg of soy isoflavones in pill form for subgroup and only with a special DAVID P. HOUCHENS, PHD, ASSISTANT TREASURER JO ANN HARDY, MEMBER AT LARGE three years. They also received daily [bone measurement],” he said. Refer- THOMAS N. KIRK, PRESIDENT AND CEO supplements of 500 mg of calcium and ring to the Iowa State study of BMD, DIRECTORS: 600 IU of vitamin D. The researchers Burckhardt said, “It looks solid.” ROBERT FIDOTIN, PHD ran multivariate analyses of BMD Alekel emphasized that the negative TOM HIATT changes that included age, treatments, KAY LOWMASTER, MSW, LCSW results apply only to the soy extracts RICK LYKE, APR whole body fat mass, and the CTX used in the studies. She said soy foods, BILL PALOS biomarker of bone resorption, at three STUART PORTER consumed over a lifetime, could well RIDGE TAYLOR standard sites: lumbar spine, proximal help women limit bone loss and frac- RON WITHERSPOON femur, and femoral neck. tures, just because such foods may be US TOO INTERNATIONAL, INC. IS INCORPORATED Alekel said the analyses showed that less fattening and have other health IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND RECOGNIZED AS A 501(C)(3) NOT-FOR-PROFIT the 120-mg dose of soy was modestly benefits. CHARITABLE CORPORATION. protective at the femoral neck, relative Nevertheless, she said, it now appears to placebo (parameter estimate -1.223, DONATIONS / GIFTS TO US TOO certain that soy phytoestrogens do not ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. P=0.024) in women who took at least have the same bone-protective effects 80% of their assigned medications on 5003 FAIRVIEW AVE. DOWNER’S GROVE, IL 60515 at estrogen receptors seen with mam- PHONE: (630) 795-1002 / FAX: (630) 795-1602 schedule. But no significant benefit malian estrogens. WEBSITE: WWW.USTOO.ORG was found for the soy pills in any MedPage Today, 15 September 2009 COPYRIGHT 2009, US TOO INTERNATIONAL, INC. other measure. Whole body fat mass,
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MEN DIAGNOSED WITH PROSTATE CANCER IN RECENT T VAGINALIS INFECTION YEARS HAVE BETTER SURVIVAL OUTCOMES (Continued from page 1) Research published online ahead of to 15 to 23 percent in the earlier period. mitted infection, can infect the prostate print in the Journal of the American and could be a source of inflammation. The JAMA research also showed that With respect to prostate cancer preven- Medical Association (JAMA), by a men aged 66 and older with low- to team at The Cancer Institute of New tion, it is noteworthy that up to three- intermediate-risk cancer without initial quarters of men infected with Tricho- Jersey (CINJ), showed that men diag- surgery or radiation had a low risk of monas vaginalis may not realize they nosed with prostate cancer in the early needing palliative therapy. Only four are infected, since they may not have 1990’s had significantly improved to eleven percent of men in this group any symptoms. survival outcomes compared with pa- used palliative surgery, radiation, or A previous study had found an associa- tients whose cancers were diagnosed chemotherapy to alleviate pain or can- in prior decades. tion between risk of prostate cancer and cer symptoms over a ten-year period Trichomonas vaginalis infection, but it The study, Outcomes of Localized following diagnosis. It also was deter- was not large enough to determine if Prostate Cancer Following Conserva- mined that between 56 and 60 percent there was a link between the infection tive Management, examined 14,516 of men in the study (depending on and advanced and lethal disease. men aged 66 or older who were diag- tumor grade) had a risk of dying of In the present study, the researchers nosed with prostate cancer from 1992 causes other than prostate cancer analyzed blood samples from 673 men through 2002 and did not receive sur- within ten years following diagnosis. with prostate cancer who were partici- gery or radiation within six months of The authors say improvement in sur- pants in the Physicians’ Health Study diagnosis. The researchers utilized vival rates since the 1990’s could relate and compared infection status based information from the Surveillance, to such factors as earlier diagnosis due on antibody levels to 673 control sub- Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) to the increased use of the PSA test, jects who were not diagnosed with cancer registries and healthcare en- changes in how disease is classified, prostate cancer. The blood samples counter data collected by Medicare. and advances in medical care. The were collected in 1982, on average a The study found that the risk of dying improved survival reported in JAMA is decade before cancer diagnosis. from prostate cancer over a ten-year in line with findings of another study The results showed that Trichomonas period following diagnosis declined by published by some of the same authors vaginalis infection was associated more than 60 percent compared with online ahead of print in the Journal of with a more than two-fold increase in patients diagnosed in the 1970s and the National Cancer Institute (JNCI), the risk of prostate cancer that was 1980s. For example, among patients which documents significant changes advanced stage at diagnosis, and a with intermediate-risk cancer, men in the contemporary risk profile of nearly three-fold increase in prostate aged 66 to 74 had between a two and prostate cancer patients. cancer that would result in death. six percent chance of dying from pros- (Continued on page 7) “The fact that we found a strong asso- tate cancer within ten years compared ciation between serologic evidence of infection with Trichomonas vaginalis, GETTING CLOSER TO THE ORIGINS OF PROSTATE CANCER a potentially modifiable risk factor, In a study reported online ahead of study co-author Cory Abate-Shen, a and risk of advanced and lethal disease print in the journal Nature, researchers professor of urology, pathology and represents a step forward in prostate describe a previously unknown form cell biology at Columbia University’s cancer, especially given that so few risk factors for aggressive prostate of prostate stem cell that can become Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer cancer have been identified,” said Lo- cancerous if genetic controls go hay- Center, in New York City. relei Mucci, assistant professor in the wire. The prostate consists of several “Up until our paper, it was thought department of epidemiology at HSPH layers of cells, with the lowest, the that all the stem cells in the prostate and senior author of the study. basal layer, playing a supporting role reside in the basal layer,” Abate-Shen The authors note that further research and the luminal layer, just above it, said. “We have found a second stem doing the actual work of the gland. in a large-scale, prospective study cell population that is luminal rather needs to be done to confirm the find- The discovery was made in mice. The than basal.” The research group al- ings. If confirmed, the findings would mouse work showed that the newly ready is looking for similar stem cells identify this as one of the few known described stem cells can give rise to in human prostate glands. “If we can modifiable factors for aggressive pros- cancers if the action of a tumor- identify them in humans, we can ana- tate cancer. Moreover, the infection is suppressing gene is lost. That gene is lyze them molecularly,” Abate-Shen easily treated with an inexpensive an- frequently mutated in human prostate said. “That would give us a tool to tibiotic regimen, suggesting that pre- cancers. The next step is to show that study where and how prostate cancer vention or early treatment of Tricho- the same kind of stem cells exist in originates – we want to do battle with monas vaginalis infection could be a humans. “But this work partially ex- these stem cells” he added. target for prostate cancer prevention. plains how you can have a prostate HealthDay News, 9 September 2009 HSPH news release, 9 September 2009 cancer that is luminal,” explained
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PROTEIN TIED WITH AGGRESSIVE PROSTATE CANCER SEA BLUE PROSTATE In the largest study of its kind, an in- cells survive when they are placed CANCER WALK DELIVERS ternational team of pathologists stud- under ‘stressful’ conditions, such as FUN, FUNDS AND SUN ied an initial 4,000 prostate cancer disease or injury. If the protein is ex- A sunny, warm day welcomed the 973 patients over a period of 15 years to pressed in cancer, however, it can pre- walkers who came to celebrate and understand the natural progression of vent the diseased cells from dying, honor the men and families who have the disease and how it should be man- allowing the cancer to progress. dealt with a prostate cancer diagnosis, aged. The research, published online The team, supported by Cancer Re- and to encourage other men to learn in the British Journal of Cancer, could search UK (CRUK) and in collabora- about their risk for the disease and the be used to develop a blood test to dis- tion with scientists in London and resources available to them should tinguish between aggressive and non- New York, found that the protein can they be needed. aggressive forms of prostate cancer. be used to predict how the disease will Previously known as the Greater Chi- Studies have shown that men with non behave and could help doctors advise cago Prostate Cancer Run, Walk ‘n -aggressive prostate cancer can live patients on how the disease could af- Roll, the new SEA Blue Prostate Can- with the disease untreated for many fect their daily lives. cer Walk was held on September 13, years, but aggressive cancer requires “By studying the disease in a large 2009 in Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL. This 5th annual event was a collabora- immediate treatment. number of men throughout the UK and tion between Us TOO International Prof. Chris Foster, Head of the Univer- over a long period of time, we have and Wellness Place – two cancer or- sity’s Division of Pathology, explains, been able to get a more complete pic- ganizations which offer programs and “The protein we’ve identified (HSP- ture of how to manage the disease suc- services at no cost for prostate cancer 27) provides a signal that the disease cessfully, whilst limiting the negative survivors and their families. will continue to progress. We know impact it can have on a patient’s life,” that at the point this marker is ex- added Prof. Foster. Highlights included performances by Jesse White Tumblers, led by founder pressed, medics need to administer The study also demonstrates the role of treatment to kill the cancer cells. We and Illinois Secretary of State, Jesse modern of Pathology, not only in es- White, and blues band Phil Guy’s Chi- have shown that in the majority of tablishing diagnoses but in determining cases, however, this marker is not ex- cago Machine, (Buddy Guy’s brother, if the subsequent management of indi- Phil, recently passed away from pros- pressed and therefore patients do not vidual patients is biologically appropri- necessarily need to go through treat- tate cancer and his band played in his ate for their particular condition. honor). Robert Jordan, WGN-TV9 ment to lead a normal life.” Lab News Daily, 23 September 2009 news co-anchor and prostate cancer The protein normally has a positive survivor, served again as event emcee, function in the body, helping healthy and Damon T. Arnold, MD, MPH, Director of the Illinois Department of US TOO INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATES IN Public Health, and Commander of the Army National Guard Joint Task COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN Force Medical Command in Spring- Us TOO International is eligible to receive Combined Federal Campaign funds as field, gave a moving, motivational a member of the Health Service Charities of America (HSCA). HSCA represents presentation to the crowd, sharing his human service charities in workplace fundraising drives, and has participated in personal prostate cancer story. the Combined Federal Campaign, individual state and municipal campaigns, and Greg Bielawski, Treasurer for the Us private sector corporate campaigns. TOO Int’l Board of Directors and re- All federal employees, including military personnel, will be participating in the 6 (Continued on page 7) -week Combined Federal fundraising Campaign from 15 September to 31 De- cember annually, and are able to complete pledge cards to make donations to their charities of choice. Please share Us TOO’s CFC number within your chapter and network of friends: CFC# 11614 Thank you!
2009 Chicago SEA Blue Prostate Cancer Walk event co-chairs and fellow survivors Greg Bielawski (L) & James Branch
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SUCCESSFUL PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS & FUNDRAISING EVENT: 5th Annual Chicago SEA Blue Prostate Cancer Walk —September 13, 2009
New record: PSA tests for 101 men Abbott Team shows their support for Us TOO
People got into the SEA Blue/See Blue theme!
Great volunteers!!! Thank you!!!
IL Sec. of State Jesse White (left) with emcee & survivor, Robert Jordan, WGN-TV News
A proud survivor walks
Us TOO Co-Founder Ed Kaps (center) walked with his family & Us TOO President/CEO Tom Kirk (at Ed’s left)
Survivors IL Dept of Health Director Dr. Damon Arnold (left) with event co-chair James Branch
Honoring the special ones no longer with us After last year’s rainout, the sunny, 80 degree day was enjoyed by all! Survivors group photo, total of 118 participated
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DOC MOYAD’S WHAT WORKS & WHAT IS WORTHLESS NEW US TOO RESOURCES COLUMN, ALSO KNOWN AS “NO BOGUS SCIENCE” COLUMN (Continued from page 1) “Prescription drugs (dutasteride, finasteride…) for prostate enlargement or port. The Inspire platform offers many benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are better than the dietary supplements features that the current Prostate recommended for BPH by some alternative medicine experts for 10 reasons!” Pointers email lists do not, allowing Mark A. Moyad, MD, MPH, members to: Post pictures and videos, University of Michigan Medical Center, Department of Urology Expand profile pages, Create a per- sonal blog, One-time registration (you Bottom Line: Dutasteride (Avodart®) we know that these drugs should re- need to join only one place to access and finasteride (Proscar® & generic duce your PSA by half or 50% within all 12 discussion topics you are inter- version) are better than dietary supple- 6 months and if they do not it may ested in – only one password to re- ments for prostate enlargement be- provide some further and even better member!), and Control privacy op- cause these drugs may prevent pros- insight into how to treat your condi- tions. You can join and post anony- tate cancer and prevent the need for tion. Fourth, these drugs should shrink mously if you wish, and you are not the treatment of non-life threatening your prostate by an average of 25% or required to share your personal email prostate tumors. Oh yeah, and they a little more or a little less so you can address. Communicating within the also may stop hair loss on the head. urinate better. Fifth, these drugs make various Prostate Pointers discussion Saw palmetto, Pygeum africanum, zinc the PSA test more accurate. Sixth, both groups requires an active – and pub- … they are all over the place for sale to drugs should reduce anxiety in men on licly shared – email address. improve urinary flow and some com- active surveillance or watchful waiting New wiki resources mercials advertise that they may actu- (the less politically correct term for active surveillance so it is not used as In addition to the new Us TOO / In- ally reduce the risk of prostate cancer. spire discussion community, Us TOO B.S. my friends! I believe these prod- often) by reducing their PSA and per- haps by offering more of a treatment is also announcing the availability of ucts may help a little but the truth is two new wiki resources related to that the prescription drugs for non- option compared to just doing nothing or making dietary changes. Seventh, Prostate Cancer & Intimacy (PCAI) cancerous enlargement of the prostate and Radical Prostatectomy & Post have become so good that many people these drugs reduce hair loss on the head and promote hair growth and not Surgical Issues (RP-Help). Both house need to put away their big pharma bias a collection of articles focused on inti- and accept this truth. Let’s review why that this should matter at all, but it is an eye-opening or hair-raising side effect macy and sexuality in the context of these prescription medications have prostate cancer. What is a wiki? Learn become so good by themselves. (pun intended). Eighth, the price of these drugs should drop in time be- more at
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THE DOCTORS NOTE – GERALD CHODAK, MD SEA BLUE CANCER WALK The optimal management for men It seems that this column is incomplete (Continued from page 4) with prostate cancer continues be a unless it addresses some study of an tired city manager of Carol Stream, IL, challenge because so many men are herb or other supplement that is and James Branch, a retired head of being diagnosed and treated while thought to be helpful. This month it corporate IT at BlueCross BlueShield only a percentage of them actually are involves soy pills to prevent osteopo- Association in Chicago, were co- in danger. Currently, we are faced rosis in women but we might think the chairpersons of the 5th Annual 2009 either with treating most men diag- same would also be true for men, es- SEA Blue Prostate Cancer Walk. nosed at the risk of over-treating many pecially those on androgen suppres- “Prostate cancer survivors and families or avoiding over-treatment at the risk sion. The study failed to show a bene- often don’t know where to turn for re- of failing to help some men who really fit. Readers are probably getting tired sources after diagnosis,” said James need it. Further evidence that many of hearing me say that without good Branch, prostate cancer survivor and men are being over-treated is provided science the claims about supplements active Us TOO volunteer. “This event in the article by Lu-Yao and published remain unfounded but each time a is helping us communicate the urgent in JAMA. The authors found that men good study is done it fails to meet ex- message that support, education and aged 65-74 who were diagnosed with pectations. “Let the buyer beware!” advocacy are available and accessible a Gleason score 5, 6 or 7 cancer and through organizations like Us TOO treated conservatively only had a 6% SURVIVAL OUTCOMES International and Wellness Place. Our chance of dying from prostate cancer (Continued from page 3) SEA Blue name change further empha- in the next ten years versus approxi- sizes this point,” he added. SEA is an mately a ten fold higher chance of The time period studied is an era when acronym for the event’s goal to raise dying from some other cause. Al- methods of diagnosing, classifying funds to Support, Educate and Advo- though these findings do not tell us and treating prostate cancer underwent cate for survivors and families in the what to expect for younger men, they significant changes. The investigators fight against prostate cancer. are important for the large number of say their finding may prompt a reas- The Steering Committee members also men over 65 who may not truly under- sessment of treatment options for lo- included event co-founders Myrna stand why conservative therapy is a calized prostate cancer. CINJ is a Cen- Porter and Russ Gould, Tony Pokrajac, very reasonable option for them. ter of Excellence of UMDNJ-Robert Greg Coloian, American Medical Sys- What we really need is a way to figure Wood Johnson Medical School. tems, Pam Reiss, President & CEO, out which of the men are in danger. Grace Lu-Yao, PhD, MPH, cancer Wellness Place and Tom Kirk, Presi- Help soon may be forthcoming, how- epidemiologist at CINJ and associate dent & CEO, Us TOO International. ever, as evidenced by the very exciting professor of medicine at UMDNJ- Sponsors for the event included Pat article on hsp27. It is a heat shock Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Vince Foglia of the Foglia Family protein that normally helps protect and of epidemiology at UMDNJ- Foundation, Abbott Laboratories, Den- damaged non-cancerous cells. The School of Public Health, is the lead dreon,
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MEDIVATION ANNOUNCES INITIATION OF PHASE 3 CLINICAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR TRIAL OF MDV3100 IN ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER In the Sept. 2009 Special Issues Sup- plement of Us TOO HotSheet, there is In September, Medivation, Inc. an- tolerability. This trial will evaluate an article by Charles Myers, MD, “The nounced treatment of the first patient MDV3100 at a dose of 160 mg taken Prostate Cancer Screening Contro- in a Phase 3 clinical trial of the inves- orally once daily versus placebo. versy,” in which he writes on page 3: tigational drug MDV3100 in advanced Information about patient eligibility “Pomegranate had a dramatic impact prostate cancer. Known as AFFIRM, and enrollment can be obtained by on prostate cancer progression in a the trial will evaluate the novel andro- calling the AFFIRM study hotline toll- well-designed Phase II trial. A ran- gen receptor antagonist MDV3100 in free at +1 888 782-3256. men with castration-resistant prostate domized controlled trial is underway.” cancer who were previously treated PRNewswire-FirstCall, 23 September 2009 Question: with docetaxel-based chemotherapy. DOC MOYAD Was the impact good or bad? Reason “Late stage prostate cancer remains an for my inquiry – I drink a lot of pome- (Continued from page 6) obvious and large unmet clinical granate juice. need,” said David Hung, MD, presi- ner pregnant on these medications, but Thank You in advance, R.J. Irvine dent and chief executive officer of it can still happen. I believe that some From the Editorial Team: Medivation. Our ultimate goal is to dietary supplements and herbal prod- develop MDV3100 for the broadest ucts are still an option for some men Mr. Irvine, we forwarded your ques- possible spectrum of prostate cancer with very mild prostate enlargement, tion to Dr. Myers, and he provided the disease states. The first step is to de- but the prescriptions right now are following response: velop this product candidate for pa- really good. However, a lot of men are “Pomegranate slows the growth of tients with the most advanced disease scared to take a prescription for BPH prostate cancer recurrent after surgery and in greatest need.” and I hope I gave you 10 reasons why or radiation. The juice is high in sugar The randomized, placebo-controlled, you should feel more comfortable ask- and if you take more than 8 oz a day, double-blind, multi-national AFFIRM ing your doctor about them (hey, I the sugar load may become a problem. trial is expected to enroll approxi- sound like that TV commercial – oh no If you are diabetic or have other rea- mately 1,200 patients at sites in the – big pharma is getting to me! So, I sons to limit your sugar intake, pome- US, Canada, Europe, South America, need to finish this column in a non- granate capsules can be used.” Australia and South Africa. The pri- promotional way). PS. Exercise & If you have questions or want to comment mary endpoint of the trial is overall weight loss also improves urinary flow! on any articles published in the Us TOO survival; secondary endpoints include 1. Kaplan SA, Roehrborn CG, Meehan AG, HotSheet, please forward them to progression-free survival, safety and et al. Urology 73: 935-9, 2009 Tom Kirk at [email protected].
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