In this "Ask the Doctor" column from the Prostate Disorders White Paper, Johns Hopkins Professor Dr. H. Ballentine Carter answers a question that's on the minds of many men diagnosed with early-state prostate cancer: "Are there any meaningful clinical trials for prostate cancer patients who are not at an advanced stage?"
At Johns Hopkins we are carefully monitoring men with small volume prostate cancer tumors in an expectant management program. In addition, a number of clinical trials exploring adjunctive or complementary therapies for early prostate cancer are either planned or under way.
Some of the prostate cancer treatments being studied are high intensity focused ultrasound to destroy cancerous tissue; everolimus (an agent that blocks some of the enzymes needed for cell growth) given before prostate cancer surgery; granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) given before prostate cancer surgery to help the body build an effective immune response to kill stray tumor cells; and pomegranate juice given to men with rising PSA levels after prostate cancer surgery or radiation therapy.
Clinical trials have strict criteria for participation, and some may be demanding in terms of time or travel. Ask your urologist or surgeon about clinical trials that might be appropriate for your medical situation and make sure you understand the pros and cons of participating in a trial.
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You can view the types of prostate cancer trials planned or under way at www.clinicaltrials.gov (type in “prostate cancer, early stage” in the “Search Clinical Trials” box).
