Prostate Cancer Blog Archive

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Prostate Cancer Blog Archive-2011-2012

Study: Circulating Free Testosterone An Independent Predictor of Advanced Disease

Schnoeller et al have published a study in the online first edition of World Journal of Urology that demonstrated that low levels of free testosterone (<0.047µg/l) in men with localized prostate cancer were significantly associated with higher tumor stage, positive lymph node status, and advanced disease. Researchers measured sex hormone serum levels in 137 men before undergoing radical prostatectomy. The study authors suggest that measuring pre-treatment total testosterone levels in addition, or in combination, with PSA testing may be a useful prognostic parameter for men prior to radical prostatectomy. August 17, 2012

Study: Vaccine Therapy Plus Radiation Not Much Different Than Radiation Alone

Combing external beam radiation therapy with a poxviral vector-based therapeutic vaccine (interleukin-2 (S-IL-2) did not result in significant differences in overall survival, compared to radiation therapy alone, in a small study that followed 36 men with localized prostate cancer for up to six-and-a-half years. The study appears in the September issue of Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Disease (it was first published in the March advance online publication). August 16, 2012

Some Good (And Bad) Affordable Healthcare Act News

The fact that the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Healthcare Act (AHA) in its entirely gives prostate cancer survivors continued access to affordable health insurance. Unfortunately it puts early detection for prostate cancer at risk, according to a recent ZERO press release. ZERO states that the United States Preventive Services Task Force’s (USPSTF) recent recommendation to change prostate cancer to a grade of D discourages men from getting tested for prostate cancer, which may lead private health insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid to stop providing coverage for PSA testing. USPSTF is responsible for establishing the required list of preventive services that both government agencies and private insurance companies must pay for. July 12, 2012

Multiple Biopsies, Robotic Surgery, and Erectile Dysfunction

Men who have multiple biopsies for prostate cancer prior to nerve-sparing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) may have poorer outcomes for erectile dysfunction, according to a study (Sooriakumaren et al) published in the July/August issue of the International Journal of Impotence Research. Between May 2009 and December 2009, 367 men who had RARP were divided into two groups: men who had a single prostate biopsy and men who had multiple biopsies. Men who had multiple biopsies had poorer erectile function six months after RARP (57% vs 80%). It should be noted that there were only 50 men followed in the single biopsy group, 23 men in the multiple biopsy group, and a single surgeon performed all of the RARPs. It would be interesting to see the outcomes of a similar study for men who have had traditional radical prostatectomy. We also do not think that six months is long enough to measure sexual recovery (which is why we always encourage couples to be patient the first few years following any type of prostate cancer surgery). We would love to know how these men are doing three years after RARP. July 19, 2012

Can No Treatment Be The Best Treatment For Prostate Cancer?

There’s been a lot of press about whether men should opt for active surveillance (also known as watchful waiting) instead of aggressively treating prostate cancer. This morning, a Johns Hopkins health alert arrived stating that: “active surveillance is usually appropriate for men with very low-risk prostate cancer whose estimated life expectancy is less than 20 years.” Johns Hopkins’ prostate cancer experts consider a man to be at very low risk if he has: a stage T1c (PSA-detected) tumor; a Gleason score (the sum of the primary and secondary Gleason grades) of 6 or below; prostate cancer in no more than two biopsy cores with cancer present in 50 percent or less of any core; and PSA density (PSA divided by prostate volume on ultrasound) below 0.15 ng/mL/cc. August 7, 2012

New Prostate Cancer Test

In June, Beckman Coulter, Inc. announced that it had received Premarket Approval (PMA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Prostate Health Index, a simple, non-invasive blood test that they claim is 2.5-times more specific in detecting prostate cancer than prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in patients with PSA values in the 4-10 ng/mL range. They also claim it is proven to reduce the number of biopsies, which will hopefully be substantiated when they release their full clinical data. July 10, 2012

Black Tea and Prostate Cancer Risk?

Over the years, research about the benefits of drinking green tea (an antioxidant) for prostate cancer has resulted in mixed results. Now a new study published in Nutrition and Cancer has linked high consumption of black tea (greater than or equal to 7 cups daily) to risk of men developing prostate cancer. While the media has jumped all over this story, read this excellent response from the "New" Prostate Cancer InfoLink about the limitations of this study. June 26, 2012.

News About Abiraterone Acetate Plus Prednisone in Men with Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer

Results observed from pre-specified interim analyses of a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study (COU-AA-302) demonstrated that men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who were treated with abiraterone acetate (brand name ZYTIGA®) plus prednisone showed a statistically significant improvement in radiographic progression-free survival and all secondary endpoints, compared to men who were treated with placebo plus prednisone, according to a press release issued by Janssen Research and Development, LLC, which is part of Johnson & Johnson. These results were announced at the America Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting on June 2. Abiraterone acetate is currently only approved for use in combination with prednisone for the treatment of men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have received prior chemotherapy containing docetaxel. You can read the full press release at www.investor.jnj.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=679337. June 5, 2012.

Enzalutamide (MDV3100) Now Available in 10 States as Part of Ongoing Study

Men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who are currently on hormone treatment and have previously received docetaxel-based chemotherapy may be eligible to participate in an ongoing study to provide expanded access to MDV3100 and monitor its safety, according to a mailing we received from the Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PRCI). Men in states including Alaska, Arizona, California, Indiana, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia are currently being recruited for this study. It takes several weeks to complete the enrollment and screening process and PRCI suggests that men may be able to speed up the process by providing the clinical trial nurse with their own medical records. June 6, 2012.

Controversy Over PSA Screening Continues

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued a statement that it “recommends against prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening for prostate cancer. This is a grade D recommendation. This recommendation applies to men in the U.S. population that do not have symptoms that are highly suspicious for prostate cancer, regardless of age, race, or family history...” We beg to differ, as do many leading organizations in the prostate cancer community, including the American Urologic Association, Society of Urologic Oncologists, American Society for Radiation Oncology, Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI), American Cancer Society, Johns Hopkins, the Mayo Clinic, and others, according to a recent mailing by PCRI. You can read both supporting and opposing comments here. June 5, 2012.

XGEVA® (denosumab) Does Not Receive FDA Approval

The FDA has not approved the use of denosumab to treat men with castration-resistant prostate cancer at high risk of developing bone metastases, according to an Amgen press release. The FDA determined that the effect on bone metastases-free survival was of insufficient magnitude to outweigh the risks (including osteonecrosis of the jaw) of denosumab in the intended population, and requested data from an adequate and well-controlled trial(s) demonstrating a favorable risk-benefit profile for denosumab that is generalizable to the US population. May 3, 2012.

Study: Antifungal Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Antifungal treatment is sometimes used for men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). In a recent study by Antonarakis et al, 46 men with CRPC either received 200 mg or 600 mg of daily the antifungal drug itraconazole (the brand name is Sporanox). Results of the study have not yet been published, but were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting. MedPage Today reported that men in the high-dose itraconazole group had a progression-free survival (PFS) of 48.4% at 24 weeks versus 11.8% for the men in the 200-mg group. The median PFS was 17 weeks for the high-dose group and 11.9 weeks for the low-dose group. April 12, 2012.

Small High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Study Shows Promise

Although high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is not approved for use in the United States, a small UK study by Ahmed et al, is reporting favorable results in the early online version of The Lancet Oncology. With HIFU, small lumps of cancerous prostate tissue are removed, making it somewhat similar to lumpectomy for breast cancer. Then soundwaves cause targeted tissue to heat up, which kills the cancer cells. Proponents claim that HIFU is extremely accurate, effective, and has fewer side effects than conventional treatments, such as radical prostatectomy. In this study of 42 men, 12 months after starting HIFU treatment (some men had treatment more than once), 40 men had pad-free continence, 31 men (out of 35 who were able to have penetratable intercourse at baseline) were able to maintain erections sufficient for penetration, and 95% of men were free of clinically significant cancer. While promising, much larger, long-term studies need to be conducted. April 17, 2012.

Study: Brachytherapy and Men with Gleason 7 Prostate Cancer Researchers in British Columbia who compared the records of 1,500 men with prostate cancer (439 men had Gleason 7 disease; 362 men had Gleason 3+4 and 77 men had 4+3 disease) have determined that treatment with I-125 brachytherapy with 6 months of hormone treatment demonstrated excellent biochemical no evidence of disease (using the Phoenix definition of biochemical recurrence, which is nadir PSA + 2.0 ng/mL following brachytherapy) in men with Gleason 7 disease after 5 years. They also found no difference in results between men with Gleason 3+4 or 4+3 disease. These men received I-125 prostate brachytherapy without supplemental external beam radiation therapy and most men also received 6 months of hormone treatment. March 29, 2012.

Canadian Warnings About Finasteride and Dutasteride

Health Canada has issued new safety warnings about Proscar, Avodart, and Jalyn, which are used to treat an enlarged prostate, according to CNC news. Updates to labels for generic forms of these drugs will also be issued. The warnings come on the heels of two international clinical trials, which demonstrated that men aged 50 and older who used 5 mg of finasteride and dutasteride for four years had a small but statistically significant increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer." High-grade prostate cancer grows and spreads more quickly than low-grade prostate cancer. March 20, 2012.

Progensa® Receives FDA Approval

Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Progensa® PCA3, Gen-Probe's prostate cancer gene 3 assay, which is the first urine-based molecular test to help determine if men who had a previous biopsy that was negative for prostate cancer need a repeat biopsy. February 23, 2012.

No Expanded Indication for Denosumab

A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel has almost unanimously (12 to 1) voted against expanding the indication for denosumab (Xgeva), which would have allowed men with castration-resistant prostate cancer to take the drug to help prevent their cancer from spreading to the bone, according to a MedPage Today news report. FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee concluded that the risks associated with Xgeva did not outweigh the benefit. Xgeva is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to RANK Ligand, a protein essential for the formation, function and survival of osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone). Xgeva prevents RANK Ligand from activating its receptor, RANK, on the surface of osteoclasts, thereby decreasing bone destruction. It is currently approved to prevent skeletal-related events in men with advanced prostate cancer that has already spread to the bone. February 9, 2012

MRIs Changed Course of Robotic Surgery

When men undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the prostate gland prior to their procedures, it changed the surgeon’s decision to use a nerve-sparing technique in 27% of men, according to results from a single-center study, published by McClure, et al in the January 24th online edition of Radiology. January 26, 2012.

Study: Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy vs Open Radical Prostatectomy is a Draw

Medicare-age men should not expect fewer adverse effects following robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, according to a study by Gallagher et al, which was published online first in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Using 20% of Medicare claims files for August 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008, the study authors sent out a survey to 797 men about 14 months following their surgeries that included self-ratings of problems with continence and sexual function. Of that number, 406 men had robotic-assisted surgery and 220 men had open radical prostatectomy. Robotic-assisted prostatectomy was not associated with greater problems with sexual function, but was associated with a nonsignificant trend toward greater problems with continence. The study authors conclude that risks of problems with continence and sexual function are high after both procedures. The "New" Prostate Cancer Infolink first reported this and provide their excellent analysis here. January 31, 2012.

Prostate Cancer Online Sexuality Survey Results Now Available

Dr. Jo-an Baldwin Peters (PhD)just contacted me to let me know that results of her independent online sexuality survey for prostate cancer survivors and their partners (and other helpful articles) are now available online. Dr. Baldwin and her fellow research partners conducted the survey as a follow up to her earlier work on how prostate cancer treatments impinge on the sexuality of both partners. You can read the results here. January 21, 2012.

Why Do Couples Stop Using ED Drugs?

Between 15% to 60% of couples stop using oral medications for erectile dysfunction (ED). Moskovic, et al, conducted 155 interviews to determine why couples stop using them in a study that was published in the International Journal of Impotence Research. Thirty-four percent of men said the main reason to stop taking ED medication was cost. “Partner issues” from the men's perspective were seldom discussed, however, for women, “partner issues” meant a range of problems from separation to alcohol abuse, lack of communication, lack of confidence, or fear of failure. The authors concluded that women had a different perspective on the reasons for stopping the use of ED medications. January 12, 2012.

Hormone Therapy Risks Up For Debate Again

Over the last few years, several studies have suggested that hormone therapy (androgen deprivation therapy) for prostate cancer increases a man’s risk of death due to cardiovascular problems. A meta analysis published in the December issue of JAMA, however, states that hormone therapy was not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death. Nguyen et al, reviewed the records of 4,141 men from 8 randomized trials (you can read the abstract here). Another study published in Cancer in early December links the development of blood clots in men over age 65 who receive hormone therapy. In this study, Edhaie et al, reviewed the records of 154,000 men with localized prostate cancer. They reported a 56 percent increased risk of blood clots in men being treated with hormone therapy versus those men who did not receive hormone therapy. December 22, 2011.

BBQ Beef Linked to Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Higher intake of well-done grilled or barbequed red meat and ensuing carcinogens could increase the risk of aggressive prostate cancer, according to a study by Punnen et al, published in PloSONE. Eating more ground beef or processed meats were positively associated with aggressive prostate cancer, with ground beef showing the strongest association. Grilled or barbequed meat, especially more well-done meat, were also associated with a higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer. You can read the study at http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0027711. December 4, 2011.

Study: Hormone Therapy Linked to Increased Blood Clots

A study by Ehdaie et al suggests that hormone therapy for prostate cancer may raise the risk of potentially dangerous blood clots, according to a Reuters Health report. Researchers reviewed data from more than 154,000 men with prostate cancer who were age 65 or older. The men who received hormone therapy had double the rate of blood clots in the veins, arteries, or lungs than the men who did not receive hormone therapy. Fifteen percent of the 58,000-plus men who received hormone therapy developed a blood clot within about 4 years compared to seven percent of men who did not receive hormone therapy. December 4, 2011.

Study: Radiation Plus Hormone Therapy Improves Survival

Men who added radiation therapy to hormone therapy lived significantly longer than men who had hormone therapy alone, according to results from a study of 1,205 men with locally advanced prostate cancer (cancer that extended outside the surface of the prostate gland, but had not spread further). Medical News Today reports that 74% of men were still alive at the seven- year point in the combined radiotherapy plus hormone therapy group, compared with 66% in the hormone-only group. You can read the full article at www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/237235.php. November 8, 2011.

Calcium and Prostate Cancer Risk in African American Men

A study by epidemiologists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and colleagues suggests that a high intake of calcium causes prostate cancer among African-American men who are genetically good absorbers of the mineral. Researchers examined VDR Cdx2 genotype and calcium intake (assessed by a food frequency questionnaire) in 533 African American men who had prostate cancer (256 men had advanced stage at diagnosis while 277 had localized prostate cancer) and 250 African American men who did not have prostate cancer. September 20, 2011.

US Government Says Men Should Not Be Tested for Prostate Cancer

The prostate cancer community is up in arms today over a draft recommendation from the US Preventive Services Task Force (which was organized by the Department of Health and Human Services) that men should not be routinely tested for prostate cancer. Zero sent a notice stating that the decision “contradicts prostate cancer testing recommendations from medical and professional organizations, including the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and American Urological Association.” The Washington Post reported that the 16-member panel was chaired by a professor of pediatrics. According to Zero, there was not a urologist or a medical oncologist on the panel. October 7, 2011.

Emerging Concepts in Erectile Preservation

The September/October issue of The International Journal of Impotence Research features an article by Moskovic et al that reviews most the recent data in support of therapies for erectile dysfunction following radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. We’ve summarized many of the studies they reviewed on our page about penile rehabilitation, but you may be interested in reading this article, particularly if you are interested in reading about testosterone replacement. September 20, 2011.

Alpharadin Gets Fast Tracked

Alpharadin (radium-223 chloride), an investigational drug for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer in men whose cancer has spread to the bone (called bone metastasis), has been granted Fast Track designation by the Food and Drug Administration, according to Bayer Health Care. The drug contains an alpha-particle emitting nuclide and mimics many of the behaviors of calcium in the bone. Alpharadin's Phase III ALSYMPCA trial met its primary endpoint by considerably improving overall survival of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer and symptomatic bone metastases. Results were so impressive that an Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended that the study be stopped and that the patients on placebo (typically a sugar pill with no medication) be offered Alpharadin therapy. In the US, Fast Track Designation is given to medications that treat serious diseases and fill an unmet medical need. September 15, 2011.

Another Urine Test for Prostate Cancer?

Last year, we reported on preliminary laboratory research conducted by scientists (Whitaker et al) in the UK, which demonstrated that a protein in urine could be a reliable marker for prostate cancer. Now a study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology suggests that a new urine test (which is not yet available) may help aid early detection of prostate cancer in men who have an elevated PSA. Researchers looked for a gene fusion that is believed to cause prostate cancer (called TMPRSS2:ERG) and a marker (called PCA3), in the urine samples of 1,312 men who had elevated PSAs. August 11, 2011.

Study: Short-term Hormone Therapy Plus Radiation Therapy Increases Survival

The use of short-term hormone therapy for 4 months before and during radiotherapy in men with stage T1b, T1c, T2a, or T2b prostate cancer, and a PSA level of 20 ng per milliliter or less, was associated with significantly decreased disease-specific mortality and increased overall survival, according to a study by Jones, et al, which was published in the July 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Other studies have reported on the benefits of adding short-term hormone therapy to radiation therapy, but this is the largest randomized trial to date and studied 1,979 men at low and intermediate risk of prostate cancer progression for a period of more than more than nine years from October 1994 to April 2001 at 212 U.S. and Canadian centers. July 19, 2011.

Final Judgment about Java and Prostate Cancer Risk?

Back in 2009, we reported on a prospective investigation that suggested that there may be a relationship between regular coffee consumption and the risk of advanced prostate cancer. Now researchers who conducted a meta analysis of 12 epidemiological studies suggest that there is no evidence to support a harmful effect of coffee consumption on prostate cancer risk. July 19, 2011.

Survey: Life after Prostate Cancer Surgery

Reuters Health is reporting that of 152 men surveyed who had radical prostatectomy, almost half said that their life after surgery is worse than they expected, and that they had less sexual function and greater incontinence problems than they anticipated. The results of the survey have been published in an in-press article by Tracey L. Krupski in the Journal of Urology. Despite presurgery counseling, men surveyed may have had unrealistic expectations of regaining full sexual function in the first year after surgery. When questioned, about half of the men believed that they would have the same sexual function as before surgery, and seventeen percent of men believed that their sexual function would improve after prostate cancer surgery. It should be noted that the follow-up time of this survey was only one year after the men's surgeries. As we have previously reported, sexual recovery following radical prostatectomy may take longer than one year. July 5, 2011.

Lupron Now Available In Six-Month Injection

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Abbott’s new 45 mg for six-month administration formulation of Lupron Depot (leuprolide acetate for depot suspension). Lupron is a medication that works by suppressing the production of the hormone testosterone. It is used as a palliative treatment for men who have advanced prostate cancer. Prior to this, men could get injections every month, every three months, or every four months. June 23, 2011.

AUA Supports Prostate Cancer Legislation

The American Urological Association (AUA) has announced its support for the Prostate Research, Outreach, Screening, Testing, Access and Treatment Effectiveness (PROSTATE) Act of 2011 (H.R. 2159), which was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The goal of the PROSTATE Act is to foster a more integrated and coordinated focus on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. June 16, 2011.

Study: Six Months of Hormone Therapy Plus Radiation Doubled Survival Rate

Men who had locally advanced prostate cancer and received 6 months of hormone therapy along with radiation treatment halved their risk of dying from prostate cancer compared to men who received radiation therapy alone, according to results of a 10-year clinical trial (Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group or TROG), which was published March 25 in the online edition of The Lancet Oncology. The TROG 96.01 trial assessed the effects of 3-month and 6-month short-term hormone therapy (neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy) in 818 men with locally advanced prostate cancer. March 27, 2011.

Modest Decline in PSA Screenings Reported

The number of PSA screenings conducted by the U.S. Veterans Health Administration Pacific Northwest Network has slightly declined, according to a Medical News Today report. The decline was 3 percentage points among men aged 40-54; 2.7 percentage points among men aged 55-74; and 2.2 percentage points among men aged 75 years and older. This modest decline has been attributed to new guidelines for screening, which followed the publication of two large clinical trials in 2009. March 3, 2011.

And a Man’s ED Drug of Choice is…

After analyzing muliptle preference studies, Morales et al have determined that men prefer tadalafil (brand name Cialis) over vardenafil (Levitra) and sildenafil (Viagra), according to their article in the December online edition of International Journal of Impotence Research. A PubMed search was conducted for manuscripts published within the last 10 years containing the search items ED, preference, sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil. Selected articles were from peer reviewed publications on patients’ preference and ED published in medical literature since 2000. According to the authors, 52 to 65% of men prefer tadalafil compared with 12 to 20% of men who prefer vardenafil and 8 to 30% of men who prefer sildenafil. The authors state that preference for tadalafil was mainly due to “the longer duration of action that increases patients’ freedom in sexual life.” This isn’t exact science, of course. But we can tell you from personal experience that if you are not happy with the results of one ED medication, ask your doctor to try another. February 17, 2011.

Study: No Link Between Prostate Cancer and Vitamin D

Having a higher or lower level of vitamin D does not make men more or less likely to develop prostate cancer, according to new research published in Cancer Causes and Control, as reported by Medical News Today. Other studies have suggested that Vitamin D can play a role in helping prostate cancer. The findings of this new research, however, support a review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which also found there is no evidence that lower levels of vitamin D increase the risk of prostate cancer. More studies are needed to better determine the role Vitamin D plays (or does not play) in prostate cancer. February 15, 2011.

Stress Less Before Prostate Cancer Surgery

According to Medical News Today, a new study by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center suggests that if a man practices stress management techniques before his prostate cancer surgery, it may help activate his body’s immune response and result in a quicker recovery while aiding his emotional state of mind. These same researchers reported earlier that men who received this training had significantly less mood disturbance and improved quality of life one year after surgery. Stress management was defined as meeting with a psychologist one to two weeks prior to surgery to discuss concerns and learn cognitive techniques. Men also learned deep breathing, guided imagery exercises, mental imagery to prepare for surgery and hospitalization, received a stress management guide, audiotapes of techniques to practice on their own, and had brief booster sessions with the psychologist the morning of their surgery and 48 hours post surgery. The full study will be published in the February/March edition of Psychosomatic Medicine. February 3, 2011.

Men with Prostate Cancer Walk Away Risk of Dying

In a study of 2,705 men who survived nonmetastatic prostate cancer, those men who walked at a normal to brisk pace for at least 90 minutes a week had a 46% lower risk of dying from prostate cancer than men who walked at a more leisurely pace for shorter periods of time, according to a report from Medpage Today. Men who added 3 or more hours of vigorous exercise a week lowered their risk even further. Men were asked to complete a questionnaire that described their type, frequency, and duration of physical activity (which suggests limitations to this study). All of the men who participated in the study had a diagnosis of nonmetastatic prostate cancer and they were followed from 1990 to 2008. The study has been published in the online edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. January 13, 2011.

Age Should Not Be a Barrier to Treatment

Results of a University of California, San Francisco study suggest that older men (above age 75) with high-risk prostate cancer may experience earlier death because they are offered fewer and less-effective treatment choices than younger men. Instead of surgery and radiation therapies, these men are often given hormone therapy or are advised to do watchful waiting. The study authors state that old age should not be a barrier to treatments that could potentially cure men’s prostate cancer. The study, which was published in the December 6 online issue of the Journal of Oncology, was based on a database of more than 13,805 men with prostate cancer in the United States. January 4, 2011.

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