September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – One in every six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in his lifetime. Being told he has prostate cancer can leave a man feeling helpless and confused, having been told that his life is in danger if he forgoes immediate treatment. He may be thinking, “Is there any good news in this nightmare?” There is: Today, prostate cancer, when detected early, is almost 100 percent curable.”
And, there are many things a man can do to keep his prostate healthy and help prevent the onset of prostate cancer. Here are a few recent findings reported by physicians at the Center for Holistic Urology at Columbia University Medical Center:
Anit-Oxidents. Some dietary anti-oxidants are nature’s “gift molecules,” endowed with cancer preventive and therapeutic properties. Although there has been a great emphasis on early detection of prostate cancer with the PSA test, there has been little in progress in preventing the disease. Although the SELECT trial did not show a reduction in prostate cancer in men taking Vitamin E and Selenium over placebo, we do believe that the proper form of these compounds can be helpful. In addition, lycopene (found in tomatoes) is a potent carotenoid which has been investigated recently in pre –clinical and clinical studies with interesting findings and should be incorporated into the diet. We also recommend daily intake of omega 3 compounds. In addition, we believe that there are great chemopreventative benefits of polyphenolic anti-oxidants derived from green tea, although the amount of green tea to take each day is uncertain. Typically we recommend 2-4 cups per day.
Hormonal Agents. The other area of interest in prevention is hormonal manipulation in the male. The role of hormones in prostate cancer development has been investigated since the 1940’s. It was established at that time that the main circulating hormone in men, testosterone, is the fuel for prostate cancer. Laboratory and clinical evidence revealed that removal of testosterone by castration caused regression of prostate tumors in animals, and could alleviate bone pain in patients with metastatic prostate cancer . Today, there are several medications available which interfere with the hormone pathway. One such drug, finasteride (Proscar ®), was recently studied in a large clinical trial here in the United States. The study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine last year, included 18,000 men randomized to placebo. The findings revealed that men taking daily finasteride had a 25% reduction in prostate cancer over the seven year trial period. Although promising, an analysis of the men that did develop cancer while on Proscar® found that there was a greater chance of developing more aggressive cancers. This has led to some concern about recommending this medication for men as a prostate cancer prevention pill. Recently, a new study investigating Avodart (dutasteride) has also shown that men who are on Avodart for 4 years had a dramatic reduction in prostate cancer.
Anti-Inflammatory Herbal Compounds. Recent literature in cancers of the prostate, colon, and breast have indicated that the COX-2 enzymes play a significant role in the development of cancer. By blocking the activation of these enzymes we may be able to prevent cancer development. At our institution, we have been exploring the role of a herbal preparation known as Zyflamend TM. This compound, manufactured by New Chapter, Brattleboro Vermont, contains a blend of herbs and spices (Turmeric, ginger, holy basil, scutellaria baicalensis, green tea, barberry, oregano, hu zhang, rosemary, and Chinese goldthread). In our laboratory, we have demonstrated that Zyflamend is a potent herbal COX-2 inhibitor and can slow the growth of prostate cancer. We presented research at a recent conference on botanical medicines and showed that Zyflamend TM can cause cell apoptosis, or programmed cell death and decreased activity of both forms of cyclo-oxygenase (COX-1, COX-2). This promising data suggests that Zyflamend TM may have use as a potential prostate cancer chemopreventative agent. Our Phase 1 trial at Columbia which enrolled patients with a pre-cancerous condition of the prostate, PIN, revealed that we could prevent cancer in many men who were destined to develop the disease. No significant changes in blood chemistries, testosterone, or cardiac function were noted. Forty-eight percent of subjects demonstrated a 25 to 50% decrease in PSA after 18 months.
Soy. The other area of prostate cancer prevention is the role of soy. The active component within soy is believed to be genistein. We have been studying Genistein Combined Polysaccharide (GCP), a nutritional supplement made by Amino Up Chemical Company. It is prepared by fermenting soy extract with basidiomycete mushrooms. Isoflavones have been reported to have estrogenic and anti-estrogenic activity as well as anti-tumor effects are that are unrelated to estrogen activity. There is evidence from epidemiological and preclinical studies that isoflavones protect against hormone-related cancer like breast, colon, and prostate cancers (Aldercreutz and Mazur, 1999). The anti-tumor activity of soy isoflavones was corroborated by the work of Su et al.
Pomegranate Extracts. The fruit of the Punica granatum (pomegranate) contains hundreds of phytochemicals and pomegranate extracts that have recently been shown to exhibit antioxidant properties, thought to be due to the action of ellagic acid, the main polyphenol in pomegranate.
Vitamin D. There is accumulating evidence for sunlight as a protective factor for several types of cancer. It appears that the further from the equator, the higher the likelihood of developing several cancers, including prostate cancer. Could this be related to vitamin D levels? It is well known that vitamin D plays a key role in calcium homeostasis and is important for optimal skeletal growth. Most physicians do not appreciate the role of vitamin D deficiency in predisposing the development of cancer. Epidemiological data show an inverse relationship between vitamin D levels and breast and prostate cancer incidence. We routinely perform vitamin D levels on our patients, and if low, we recommend 5000 units per day for our patients.
In his new book, The Definitive Guide to Prostate Cancer: Everything You Need to Know About Conventional and Integrative Therapies, Dr. Katz gives men the vital information they need to effectively navigate every step of the way as they deal with a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
(Rodale Books; www.rodalebooks.com ; September 13, 2011; Paperback $16.99; 288 pages; also available as an e-book)
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