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Same PSA Levels in Older Men May Mask Worse Disease
In a study of prostate cancer at different ages, Johns Hopkins researchers have found that at diagnosis, older men have more extensive disease than younger men even if their prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels are the same. PSA is a protein made by the prostate; rising blood levels suggest that the prostate is enlarged or even cancerous. Full story

Assessing Risk Of Advanced Cancer After Radical Prostate Surgery, a New Formula
While prostate removal cures most men of their prostate cancer, more than a third show a rise in their prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels in the ten years following surgery, an early sign that cancer may be returning. Now, in the largest and longest study of its kind, urologists at Johns Hopkins have developed a method for assessing the risk these men have for developing metastatic cancer. Full story

"Salvage" Cryo Survival Benefit and After-Effects Uncertain
June 22, 1999Cryosurgery for men with prostate cancer who undergo the procedure because radiation therapy was not effective requires more research to determine the long-term outcomes, says a new technology assessment by the US Medicare agency, AHCPR Full story

Taxotere, Emyct and Hydrocortisone "Effective" For Advanced Prostate Cancer
May 16, 1999 Chemotherapy using docetaxel, estramustine and low-dose hydrocortisone showed "impressive results" for hormone refractory prostate cancer in a Phase II NIC-sponsored study, according to a paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Full story

Her2 Immunotherapy For Prostate Cancer Looks Promising
May 16, 1999 A novel immunotherapy that directly links immune cells to Her2-positive prostate cancer cells shows the first documented responses to immunotherapy in prostate cancer. Full story
Replacing P53 Gene in Prostate Cancer Helps Shrink Tumors
May 16, 1999 Dr. Christopher Logothetis at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Texas has shown that replacing the p53 gene may shrink prostate cancers. He says the technique may lead to promising combination therapies. Full story

Pollution May Make Prostate Cancer More Aggressive
May 12, 1999 Environmental pollution from pesticides, industrial metals, cigarette smoke, and engine fumes may have an impact on prostate cancer. Wisconsin scientists are looking to see if such pollutants speed the progression of already established prostate cancer cells by switching on genes that alter the cancer cells. Full story

Actiq, New Drug for "Breakthrough" Cancer Pain
2 April, 1999. A new drug called Actiq^® for treating "breakthrough" cancer pain is now available nationwide in the USA. It delivers relatively quick relief, entering the bloodstream through the lining of the mouth. See full story for effectiveness, hype, precautions & links to pain control resources.
Cancer Pain Widespread, Often Untreated
Last year a five-state study showed that daily pain among nursing home residents with cancer is widespread and often untreated, especially among older and minority patients. Many of these patients have prostate cancer. Actiq will not help them unless they first get help with "ordinary" daily cancer pain. Full story

Fruit and Vegetables Protect Against Osteoporosis
 2 April, 1999. Tufts University researchers have found that a high quality diet in adulthood is important to bone health. Since osteoporosis affects many men on hormonal therapy for prostate cancer, these findings may be worth a closer look. Full story in our Eating Well section: Fruit and Veggies Fortify Bones
New Explanation of How Angiostatin Works
Duke University Medical Center researchers believe they've answered one of cancer's central enigmas: why some blood vessels are able to grow to, and feed, tumors, while other vessels are not. In the March 16 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, the scientists report the blood protein angiostatin, which is known to stop the growth of new blood vessels to tumors, works by depleting the chemical energy that blood vessel cells need to grow. Full Story