Prostate cancer study begins

Healthy men in their 50s and older are being encouraged to participate in the largest-ever prostate cancer prevention study, launched July 24 by the National Cancer Institute and a network of researchers.

The Comprehensive Cancer Center in Madison, which will begin accepting patients Aug. 6, is one of more than 400 participating centers in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.

The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial, or SELECT, will determine if these two dietary supplements can protect against prostate cancer, the second most common form of cancer in men.The study, which will take up to 12 years to complete, will include a total of 32,400 men. SELECT is the first study designed to look specifically at the effects of vitamin E and selenium, both separately and together, in preventing prostate cancer.

“Men who participate in this study may not only help themselves, but may also reduce the likelihood of prostate cancer in every future generation,” says David Jarrard, a UW urologist and principal investigator for SELECT at the UWCCC.

“Previous research with vitamin E and selenium in studies focused on other kinds of cancer-suggested that these nutrients might prevent prostate cancer,” Jarrard says. “SELECT is focused on prostate cancer and, when thestudy is finished, we will know for sure whether these supplements canprevent the disease.”

Selenium and vitamin E, both naturally occurring nutrients, are antioxidants. They are capable of neutralizing toxins known as “free radicals” that might otherwise damage the genetic material of cells and possibly lead to cancer. These nutrients were chosen for study because of the results of two other large cancer prevention trials.

During this year alone, prostate cancer will be diagnosed in about 198,100 mericans (4,300 in Wisconsin) and more than 31,500 men (700 in Wisconsin) are expected to die of the disease. Risk factors for the disease include being over age 55, being black, or having a father or brother with prostate cancer.

Men may be able to participate in SELECT if they are 55 or older (age 50 or older for black men); have never had prostate cancer and have not had any other cancer except nonmelanoma skin cancer, in the last five years; and are generally in good health.

Individuals who want to learn more about participating in the UW Comprehensive Cancer Center’s SELECT study may contact the UWCCC’s Cancer Connect service, (608) 262-5223 or (800) 622-8922. Those who want to find out about other SELECT sitesmay contact the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service, (800) 422-6237).