PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article provides an update of clinical research supported by the National Cancer Institute's Phase I/II prostate cancer chemoprevention agent development program.
RECENT FINDINGS: Numerous clinical trials of pharmacologic interventions to delay, prevent or reverse carcinogenesis ('chemoprevention') with the ultimate goal of reducing cancer incidence have been conducted over the past decade. These trials range from relatively small, short-duration studies with biomarker endpoints to very large, long-term, general population trials with definitive cancer endpoints. Two large, population-based, Phase III prostate cancer prevention trials have shown a significant benefit for 5-α-reductase inhibitors. However, this class of agents was also associated with increased detection of high-grade prostate cancer. Another large, Phase III prostate cancer prevention trial showed no benefit for either selenium or vitamin E, given individually or in combination; in fact, a significant increase in prostate cancer was observed among men randomized to the vitamin E alone arm.
SUMMARY: A number of early phase trials and three definitive Phase III trials have been conducted in the field of prostate cancer prevention over the past decade. Although a great deal has been learned from these studies, significant work remains to be done to fully realize the potential of chemoprevention in this disease.
Written by:
Parnes HL, House MG, Tangrea JA. Are you the author?
Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Reference: Curr Opin Oncol. 2013 May;25(3):242-51.
doi: 10.1097/CCO.0b013e32835fc8d4
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23518594
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