Pc Spes article 5
Herbal Therapy Reduces PSA Levels by Half in Men with Advanced Prostate
Cancer, UCSF Study Shows
In one of the first studies of its kind, UCSF researchers report that an herbal
compound significantly reduced prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, an indicator
of cancer cells, in men with advanced prostate cancer.
In response to the herbal compound, seventy-five percent of the men in the UCSF
study experienced more than a 50 percent decline in their PSA levels. Men in the
study include those who had never received hormonal therapy before (hormone-naive) and patients with
hormone-resistant prostate cancer, whose tumors no longer
responded to hormonal therapies.
The compound, called PC-SPES ("PC" stands for prostate cancer, "SPES" is Latin
for hope) is a combination of eight Chinese herbs, the most common of which is saw
palmetto. It is commercially available at health food stores as an over-the-counter
supplement for the treatment of prostate cancer.
During the UCSF study, a total of 61 men (27 with hormone-naive prostate cancer,
and 34 with hormone-resistant prostate cancer) were clinically evaluated for
preliminary results. Study participants received nine capsules daily of PC-SPES.
The majority of these men are still enrolled in the clinical trial and continuing
treatment at this time.
"Our findings suggest that PC-SPES may have efficacy as a treatment for some men
with prostate cancer," said Eric Small, UCSF assistant clinical professor of
medicine, co-author of the study. "However, as of yet, we cannot precisely pinpoint
the estrogenic or active anti-cancer ingredients, if any, that PC-SPES may contain."
Small reports that 27 (100 percent) of the hormone-naive patients experienced more
than a 50 percent decline in their PSA levels. Likewise, 19 out of 34 (58 percent)
hormone-resistant patients also demonstrated more than a 50 percent decline in
their PSA levels.
He notes that the study's results are preliminary and require further evaluation and a
longer follow-up period (minimum of two years). Although not all of the study
participants were eligible for evaluation at this time, a total of seventy men have
enrolled in the study and begun treatment with PC-SPES.
In addition, Small reports that shrinkage of some of the men's prostate cancer tumors
was observed. Some of the side effects of the compound included impotency,
lowered sex drive and breast tenderness -- all common conditions associated with
hormonal therapies. However, overall, the therapy was well tolerated.
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