Amit M. Algotar

Phase 3 clinical trial investigating the effect of selenium supplementation in men at high‐risk for prostate cancer

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Se supplementation on prostate cancer incidence in men at high risk for prostate cancer.

Oral Selenium Supplementation Has No Effect on Prostate- Specific Antigen Velocity in Men Undergoing Active Surveillance for Localized Prostate Cancer

The Nutritional Prevention of Cancer trial showed a 52% lower incidence of prostate cancer in men supplemented with selenium. As a result, our study was designed to assess whether selenium supplementation attenuates the progression of prostate cancer. A phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in men with localized nonmetastatic prostate cancer who had elected to forgo active treatment and be followed by active surveillance. A total of 140 men were randomized to placebo (n = 46), 200 μg/d (n = 47), or 800 μg/d (n = 47) selenium p.o. (as selenized yeast) and followed every 3 months for up to 5 years. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) velocity was used as a marker of prostate cancer progression and was estimated using mixed-effects regression. Adjusting for age, body mass index, baseline selenium, smoking, baseline PSA, race, PSA method, and Gleason score, PSA velocities for the 200 μg/d and 800 μg/d treatment groups were not statistically significantly different from placebo (P = 0.32 and P = 0.61, respectively). In the highest quartile of baseline selenium, men supplemented with 800 μg selenium showed statistically significantly higher PSA velocity as compared with placebo (P = 0.018). Selenium supplementation did not show a protective effect on PSA velocity in subjects with localized prostate cancer. On the contrary, supplementation with high-dose selenium was observed to be a risk factor for increased PSA velocity in men with high baseline plasma selenium concentrations. Cancer Prev Res; 3(8); 1035–43. ©2010 AACR.

Effect of aspirin, other NSAIDs, and statins on PSA and PSA velocity.

Aspirin, other non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and statins have been associated with lower risk of prostate cancer and its progression, though results have been inconsistent.

ERG Overexpression and PTEN Status Predict Capsular Penetration in Prostate Carcinoma

This study examines the combined effect of two common genetic alterations, ERG and PTEN, in prostate carcinoma progression.

No effect of selenium supplementation on serum glucose levels in men with prostate cancer

BACKGROUND Literature indicates a relationship between selenium supplementation and risk of diabetes. However, because these data are inconclusive, we investigated the effect of selenium supplementation on serum glucose levels in men with prostate cancer enrolled in a clinical trial testing of the effect of selenium on prostate cancer progression. METHODS Subjects were randomized to receive placebo (n=46), selenium 200 microg/day (n=47), and selenium 800 microg/day (n=47). Serum glucose levels were obtained every 6 months for up to 5 years. Longitudinal analysis was carried out to assess whether rate of change of serum glucose levels was significantly different in the selenium-supplemented groups as compared with placebo. Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of findings. RESULTS Changes in serum glucose levels during the course of the trial were not statistically significantly different as compared with placebo for the selenium 200 microg/day (P=.56) or selenium 800 microg/day (P=.91) treatment groups. CONCLUSION These results do not support a relationship between selenium supplementation and changes in serum glucose levels. Recommendations about selenium supplementation and risk of diabetes will require more definitive studies.

Dose-Dependent Effects of Selenized Yeast on Total Selenium Levels in Prostatic Tissue of Men With Prostate Cancer

Although a negative association between serum selenium (or selenium supplementation) and prostate cancer risk has been widely reported (1–8), very little is known about the effects of oral supplementation with selenized yeast on selenium levels in prostate tissue of men with prostate cancer.

Association of Obesity and Smoking With PSA and PSA Velocity in Men With Prostate Cancer

Significant number of prostate tumors are slow growing and could probably be left untreated. However, many are aggressive and can spread rapidly causing patient suffering and/or death. Current technology does not allow physicians to differentiate between slow growing and aggressive tumors at diagnosis. Hence, many patients are exposed to invasive treatment and its associated morbidities such as incontinence and impotence. Markers that enable differentiation between slow and fast progressing cancer will allow physicians to prevent unnecessary treatments on men who may not need them, and focus on the men with aggressive disease. A longitudinal study was conducted (N = 140) using mixed effects regression models to determine the association of obesity and smoking toward prostate cancer progression. These models account for correlation because of repeated measures over time, thus, using maximum amount of information provided by the subject. Estimates thus obtained are more robust and reliable than those obtained using data from a single time point. Rate of change of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) over time (PSA velocity) was used as a measure of prostate cancer progression. Results indicate that PSA velocity of overweight and obese subjects (0.59 and 1.05 ng/mL/year) was not significantly different as compared with normal weight subjects (p values .91 and .31, respectively). For men in the highest tertile of pack-years of smoking, PSA velocity was significantly higher as compared with never smokers 1.57 ng/mL/year ( p = .04). Further studies with larger sample sizes and study designs specific to above exposures are needed before recommendations can be made to reduce weight or reduce/quit smoking.

Selenium supplementation has no effect on serum glucose levels in men at high risk of prostate cancer.

Current literature regarding the effect of selenium supplementation on the risk of diabetes is inconclusive. Hence, a longitudinal study was conducted to investigate the effect of selenium supplementation on serum glucose levels in elderly men.

Selenium supplementation has no effect on serum glucose levels in men at high risk of prostate cancer (在前列腺癌高风险的男性中补硒治疗对血糖水平没有影响)

Current literature regarding the effect of selenium supplementation on the risk of diabetes is inconclusive. Hence, a longitudinal study was conducted to investigate the effect of selenium supplementation on serum glucose levels in elderly men.

Chronic Use of NSAIDs and/or Statins Does Not Affect PSA or PSA Velocity in Men at High Risk for Prostate Cancer

Background: PSA and PSA velocity (PSAV, rate of PSA change over time) are biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer. Men who are at high risk for prostate cancer also have associated comorbidities for which they are taking NSAIDs and statins for long periods; therefore, it is important to understand the effect of these medications on markers used to assess prostate cancer risk. Methods: Using a population of 699 men, multiple linear regressions were used to investigate the associations between PSA and concomitant medications, and mixed-effects models were used to investigate these associations with PSAV. Results: After adjusting for selenium use, age, race, body mass index, and pack-years of smoking, aspirin, other NSAIDs, or statins did not demonstrate statistically significant associations with PSA (P = 0.79, 0.68, and 0.79, respectively) or PSAV (P = 0.23, 0.43, and 0.84, respectively). Results were not altered upon stratifying the sample between men who developed prostate cancer during the course of the study and those who did not. Conclusions: Results from this study indicate that chronic use of aspirin, other NSAIDs, or statins did not affect PSA levels or PSAV in men at high risk for prostate cancer. Larger prospective studies designed to investigate these relationships are needed to confirm this result. Impact: Long-term use of NSAIDs or statins in men at high risk for prostate cancer may not interfere with the diagnosis or prognosis of this disease, and supports appropriate use of these medications with regard to prostate cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(10); 2196–8. ©2014 AACR.