[PC SPES in prostatic cancer: critical review of the literature]

PC SPES is a mixture of Chinese plants or plant extracts available on unrestricted sale since 1996 in the treatment of prostate cancer. Each of its components has been individually demonstrated to have an antitumour action anti-neoplastic in various in vitro or in vivo models. Its favourable action on hormone-resistant prostate cancer, demonstrated in studies with only a short follow-up, led to a certain publicity concerning this product, and its unrestricted sale together with the possibility of purchasing this product in other countries by Internet have led to the use of this product by some patients in France without medical advice or follow-up. This article presents a critical review of the results of this product in prostate cancer.