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clinical trial - nitroglycerin to slow psa

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Posted Yesterday 7:26 PM (GMT -5)
Interesting news item that would be of interest to you.

CANADIAN BUSINESS MAGAZINE - WEBSITE -
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/marketwire/article.jsp?content=20100204_081506_8_ccn_ccn

PR-USA.NET WEBSITE -
http://pr-usa.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=327439&Itemid=95

- a snippet of the article -
Treatment of prostate cancer using a very low dose of nitroglycerin may slow and even halt the progression of the disease without the severe side effects of current treatments, Queen's University [Ontario, Canada] researchers have discovered.

The findings are the result of the first-ever clinical trial using nitroglycerin to treat prostate cancer.

The 24-month, Phase II study targeted 29 men with increasing levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) following prostate surgery or radiation. PSA levels are a key predictor of cancer progression.
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Posted Yesterday 9:12 PM (GMT -5)
That is interesting. Thanks for the post Bronson.
Michael
Posted Yesterday 11:22 PM (GMT -5)
Now you tell me. I guess it's a little late for my rising PSA !
Posted Today 8:18 AM (GMT -5)
Interesting but before jumping on the bandwagon I suggest we try to find the real data.

The article says the study consisted of 29 men.
"The men were treated with a low-dose, slow-release nitroglycerin skin patch and their PSA levels monitored. Of the 17 patients who completed the study, all but one showed a stabilization or decrease in the rate of cancer progression, as measured by their PSA Doubling Time."

From the above quote, the only bit of information you know for sure is that one patient had an increase in the progression rate (presumably his PSADT went down.) They do not give the percentage of patients who showed no effect or increased DT. And what was the protocol for exiting the study? Did the 12 who left have an gross increase in PSA above a threshold?

Unless you need it for a July 4th party, I wouldn't run to the NG department store yet.
Jeff
Posted Today 9:42 AM (GMT -5)
I was not jumping on any bandwagon- I was just listing an article that may be of some interest to those here.
Sorry for the bother.
Posted Today 10:29 AM (GMT -5)

tatt2man said...
I was not jumping on any bandwagon- I was just listing an article that may be of some interest to those here.
Sorry for the bother.

Hey, tattoo: thanks for posting this article. It's not one most of us would have seen, and information is always a good thing!

The question that immediately arose to me is this: is medication that suppresses PSA also suppressing progress of the cancer, or is it simply suppressing PSA and thereby masking cancer progression? That seems to be an obvious question given the reported result. It will be interesting to follow this as research continues (I assume it will).
Posted Today 10:38 AM (GMT -5)
thank you MaxBuck - I was going to delete my latest posting -

It is my understanding (as per the initial article) that it slows down the PSA and not just masking it -
-edited from the article - link listed in original posting -

" KINGSTON (Marketwire) -
Treatment of prostate cancer using a very low dose of nitroglycerin may slow and even halt the progression of the disease without the severe side effects of current treatments, Queen's University researchers have discovered. The findings are the result of the first-ever clinical trial using nitroglycerin to treat prostate cancer.

The 24-month, Phase II study targeted 29 men with increasing levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) following prostate surgery or radiation. PSA levels are a key predictor of cancer progression.
"We were very excited to see a significant slowing in the progression of the disease as evidenced by the men's PSA levels, and to see this result in many of the men who completed the study," says Dr. Robert Siemens of Queen's Department of Urology, who led the study.
The researchers are encouraged by the results, particularly because safe and effective treatments for men with rising PSA levels following surgery or radiation are limited. They note that further testing needs to be done to confirm the results of this very small study.
... "
Posted Today 11:07 AM (GMT -5)
Looks like somebody's been studying nitro's effect on angiogenisis. As treatment for PSA progression, I'd sure try other things before trying a potent vasodilator.
Posted Today 11:11 AM (GMT -5)

tatt2man said...
I was not jumping on any bandwagon- I was just listing an article that may be of some interest to those here.
Sorry for the bother.

It's interesting to me personally. Since angiogenisis is necessary for most every cancer's growth, makes perfect sense to study the behavior of blood supply and its development from all angles.

Swim

Posted Today 11:13 AM (GMT -5)
Bronson,

Don't let any remarks keep you from posting a genuine article. Like I always say, don't shoot the messenger. You did nothing wrong. We all read and study whatever pc related news or articles we can find. Thanks for posting.

David in SC
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