Prevention of Post-Radiotherapy Failure in Prostate Cancer by Vitamin D
Abstract
Prostate cancer patients receive surgery or radiation therapy (RT) as treatment for cancer. Among patients receiving RT, 50% have an elevation of PSA within five years of treatment. These patients then receive hormones. We will test the theory that chemopreventive agents, which can prevent or delay the growth of prostate cancer cells in the laboratory, may prevent or delay the reappearance of prostate cancer in patients who have undergone RT for their prostate cancer. We will have prostate cancer patients who have already undergone RT take a chemopreventive agent [a synthetic form of vitamin D, la-hydroxyvitamin D5] for two years and see if their reoccurrence rate can be decreased. Unlike vitamin D, D5 does not make calcium in the bloodstream reach levels that cause serious side effects. Forty patients will participate and be randomized to D5 or placebo arms. A biopsy will be done at the end of the study and the tissue will be analyzed for any benefit of D5 in decreasing the recurrence of prostate cancer and also for any differences between the groups in terms of expressed intermediate molecular biomarkers. We have finalized the clinical protocol in 2003-04 and earned approval, pending minor revisions, from our IRB.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA425163
Entities
People
- Srinivasan Vijayakumar
Organizations
- University of California