Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
07:25

A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer

Published on: March 6, 2018

13.5K

Phase III prostate cancer chemoprevention trials

Howard L Parnes1, Otis W Brawley, Lori M Minasian

  • 1Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA, parnesh@mail.nih.gov.

Recent Results in Cancer Research. Fortschritte Der Krebsforschung. Progres Dans Les Recherches Sur Le Cancer
|February 18, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Chemoprevention strategies like 5-alpha reductase inhibitors show promise in reducing prostate cancer risk but may increase high-grade detection. Selenium and vitamin E supplements offered no benefit and vitamin E alone increased risk.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Chemoprevention aims to delay, prevent, or reverse cancer development, reducing overall cancer incidence.
  • Prostate cancer prevention research has seen significant advancements in the last decade.
  • Understanding risk factors and effective interventions is crucial for reducing prostate cancer burden.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of specific pharmacologic interventions in prostate cancer chemoprevention.
  • To assess the impact of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors on prostate cancer risk and grade.
  • To determine the effectiveness of selenium (selenomethionine) and vitamin E supplementation in prostate cancer prevention.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of two large, population-based, phase 3 prostate cancer prevention trials.
  • Review of a separate large, phase 3 clinical trial investigating selenium and vitamin E supplementation.
  • Examination of outcomes related to prostate cancer incidence, risk, and grade.

Main Results:

  • 5-alpha reductase inhibitors were associated with a significant reduction in overall prostate cancer risk.
  • However, these inhibitors also showed an increased detection rate of high-grade prostate cancer.
  • Long-term supplementation with selenium (selenomethionine) or vitamin E, individually or combined, demonstrated no preventive benefit; vitamin E alone paradoxically increased prostate cancer incidence.

Conclusions:

  • While certain agents show potential in reducing prostate cancer risk, careful consideration of side effects like increased high-grade detection is necessary.
  • Current evidence does not support the use of selenium or vitamin E for prostate cancer prevention.
  • Future research directions include preventing progression in active surveillance patients, immunotherapy, combination therapies, and novel biomarkers.

More Related Videos

MR Molecular Imaging of Prostate Cancer with a Small Molecular CLT1 Peptide Targeted Contrast Agent06:54

MR Molecular Imaging of Prostate Cancer with a Small Molecular CLT1 Peptide Targeted Contrast Agent

Published on: September 3, 2013

10.8K
A New Technique for Treating Low-risk Prostate Cancer—Super Active Surveillance05:19

A New Technique for Treating Low-risk Prostate Cancer—Super Active Surveillance

Published on: November 7, 2025

1.1K

Related Concept Videos

Clinical Trials: Overview01:11

Clinical Trials: Overview

Clinical development focuses on how the drug will interact with the human body and encompasses four key phases of clinical trials, each serving a specific purpose in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. These phases overlap and build upon one another. Phase I involves a small group of healthy volunteers (typically 20-80 individuals) or, in cases where significant toxicity is expected, patients with the targeted disease, such as cancer or AIDS. The volunteers are tested for...
4.7K
Clinical Trials01:16

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and medical devices. Using statistics in clinical trials enables researchers to derive reasonable and accurate conclusions from the collected data, allowing them to make wise decisions in uncertain situations. In medical research, statistical methods are crucial for preventing errors and bias.
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
8.5K
Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
6.5K
Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

2.6K
Preventive Healthcare Services01:30

Preventive Healthcare Services

Preventive healthcare services keep people healthy via frequent check-ups, screening, and counseling. They primarily aid in disease prevention rather than treating an acute or chronic illness. Preventive treatment also keeps individuals productive and energetic, allowing them to work well into their retirement years. Examples of preventive care services include:
2.3K
Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention01:26

Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention

Health promotion allows a person to control the determinants of health, resulting in an improved health status. It enhances the quality of life and reduces premature deaths. Health promotion and illness prevention programs help people make beneficial choices to reduce the risk of disease and disabilities. There are three health promotion and illness prevention levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...
12.7K