|
The Promise of Cancer Research
Research on Prevention
Research on Screening
Research on Treatment
Doctors all over the country are conducting many types of clinical trials
(research studies in which people volunteer to take part). They are studying
new ways to prevent, detect, and treat prostate cancer.
Clinical trials are designed to answer important questions and to find out
whether new approaches are safe and effective. Research already has led to many
advances, and researchers continue to search for more effective methods for
dealing with prostate cancer.
Men who join clinical trials may be among the first to benefit if a new
approach is effective. And even if people in a trial do not benefit directly,
they still make an important contribution by helping doctors learn more about
prostate cancer and how to control it. Although clinical trials may pose some
risks, researchers do all they can to protect their patients.
If you are interested in being part of a clinical trial, talk with your doctor.
You may want to read the NCI booklet Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies. It explains how clinical trials are carried out and explains their possible benefits and risks.
NCI's Web site includes a section on clinical trials at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials.
It has general information about clinical trials as well as detailed
information about specific ongoing studies of prostate cancer. Information
Specialists at 1-800-4-CANCER or at
LiveHelp at http://www.cancer.gov can
answer questions and provide information about clinical trials.
Researchers are looking for ways to prevent prostate cancer:
-
Diet: Some studies suggest that eating foods that have tomatoes in them
may help protect men from prostate cancer.
Lycopene
is an
antioxidant
in
tomatoes and some other fruits and vegetables. Research is in progress to see
if lycopene can help prevent prostate cancer. A diet low in fat is also under
study.
-
Dietary supplements: The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial
(SELECT) is studying these two supplements. The goal of the study is to learn
whether these supplements can reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.
-
Drug: The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial was a large study to test a
drug that doctors thought might lower the risk of prostate cancer. The drug is
finasteride.
In the study, the drug did reduce the chance of developing
prostate cancer. However, men who developed prostate cancer while taking the
drug were more likely to have tumors that seemed to be high-grade. High-grade
cancer grows and spreads more quickly than low-grade cancer. Researchers are
now studying tumors from men in the study to see if they were really high-grade
or only looked that way. If you are concerned about getting prostate cancer,
you may want to talk with your doctor about the potential benefits and possible
risks of taking finasteride. You also may consider taking part in another
prostate cancer prevention trial.
Researchers are studying ways to check for prostate cancer in men who have no
symptoms. Screening can help find prostate cancer at an early stage. But
studies have not shown whether screening saves lives. The Prostate, Lung,
Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO) is designed to show if
certain screening tests can reduce the number of deaths from these cancers. NCI
supports this study. The prostate screening tests that PLCO is studying are the
PSA test and digital rectal exam. Researchers will screen the men in the study
until 2007. The trial will assess the harms and potential benefits of routine
screening for prostate cancer. The results of this trial may change the way men
are screened for prostate cancer.
Researchers are studying many types of treatment and their combinations:
-
Surgery: Different methods of surgery are being developed:
-
Robotic prostatectomy: The doctor uses a laparoscope and a surgical
robot to help remove the prostate.
-
Cryosurgery: Surgeons use a tool that freezes and kills prostate tissue
in men with early prostate cancer.
-
Radiation therapy: Doctors are studying different doses of radiation
therapy. They are looking at the use of radioactive implants after external
radiation. And they are combining radiation therapy with hormone therapy.
-
Hormone therapy: Researchers are studying different schedules of hormone
therapy.
-
Biological therapy:
Doctors are testing cancer
vaccines
that help the
immune system
kill cancer cells.
-
Chemotherapy: Researchers are testing anticancer drugs and combining
them with hormone therapy.
-
Watchful Waiting: Men with early prostate cancer usually do not have any
symptoms of disease. For these men, researchers are comparing having surgery or
radiation right away against watchful waiting. Men in the watchful waiting
group do not receive treatment until they have symptoms. The results of the
study will help doctors know whether to treat early stage prostate cancer right
away, or only if symptoms appear or get worse.
Researchers also are looking at ways to lessen the side effects of treatment,
such as bone thinning and impotence.
Back to Top
< Previous Section | Next Section > |
