In the United States, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, and 1 in 6 will develop prostate cancer during his lifetime. Despite significant advances in prostate cancer treatment, available treatments for advanced stage prostate cancer offer little hope. However, as the Columbia University study shows, this potent natural formula can be crucial in the fight against prostate cancer. Lead author Dr. Jun Yan explains, “The results we saw are very important for cancer therapy because currently there is no effective treatment for hormone resistant prostate cancer. We tested a unique mix of ingredients that exhibited powerful anti-cancer effects when blended together.”

The all-natural compound studied at Columbia University combines 33 nutrients, medicinal mushrooms, minerals, and herbs that work together to provide long-lasting prostate protection. This doctor-designed compound promotes prostate health through critical hormone modulation, detoxification, cellular protection, and vital immune enhancement.

Having a direct anti-cancer effect, this blend can play an important role in prostate cancer prevention, in early stage prostate cancer, and in advanced prostate cancer. “The ability of this specific combination of ingredients to kill both hormone-sensitive prostate cancer as well as hormone-resistant prostate cancer (the type that metastasizes) is truly unusual,” says Dr. Eliaz, whom the study authors acknowledge for his development of the compound. “It’s unique and innovative because it draws from multiple medical systems and combines ancient wisdom, modern science and extensive clinical experience. This specific combination of ingredients may prevent prostate cancer and prolong the lives of those suffering from prostate cancer.”

Ongoing research on this natural compound in cancer continues to show encouraging results, and additional studies are forthcoming.

Research published in: Integrative Cancer Therapies

Yan J, Katz AE. ProstaCaid Induces G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Human and Mouse Androgen-Dependent and Independent Prostate Cancer Cells. Integrative Cancer Ther. 2010.

About Better Health Publishing:

Better Health Publishing (BHP) focuses on the publication of key works promoting health and wellness. BHP believes that education and accessible information are the core components of a healthy and sustainable society. For a free report on Prostate Cancer, go to www.prostatehealthreport.org

SOURCE Better Health Publishing

The grassroots organization was founded in 1990 by a group of prostate cancer survivors on a mission to help not just other prostate cancer patients – but also their families and loved ones being impacted by the disease. For 20 years, Us TOO has provided peer-to-peer guidance and support to men and their families dealing with prostate cancer – as well as free information and materials so patients can make informed decisions about early detection, treatment options, and life after treatment. To mark this milestone – Us TOO will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this month by hosting a two-day event on August 20-21.

Themed “From Passion To Action: Us TOO at 20″ – The Us TOO International Summit, Symposium & Celebration for Men and Their Families Battling Prostate Cancer will be held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois. The event will include a health exhibit and an educational symposium led by researchers and urologists from across the country – featuring discussions on the latest in therapy, prostate cancer research conducted by programs through the U.S. Department of Defense, and intimacy and incontinence.

Representatives from other prostate cancer non-profit organizations will also be in attendance to recognize Us TOO for its 20 years of service.

“What the people at Us TOO have done for patients and their families over the years is simply admirable. We at Men’s Health Network share a strong sense of camaraderie with them as we all work towards a common goal of helping those affected by prostate cancer,” said Scott Williams, VP of Men’s Health Network – a national non-profit organization whose mission is to reach men and their families where they live, work, play and pray.

“We applaud Tom Kirk, Us TOO’s President and CEO, and his Board, volunteer and staff team for their achievement as an organization and for their continued contributions in prostate cancer awareness, education and support. The event is a testament to their commitment to tackle the issues surrounding prostate cancer,” said Merel Nissenberg of the National Alliance of State Prostate Cancer Coalitions, an umbrella organization driven to form prostate cancer coalitions in every state.

A highlight of the event is an advocacy summit that addresses the on-going debate about the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test and treatment options. “This will be a tremendous opportunity for people on both sides of the issue to lay it all out on the table and engage in a healthy discussion. The PSA test may have some flaws, but it is still the best tool available for early detection of prostate cancer. Thank you to Us TOO for bringing everyone together so we can finally make progress on this issue,” said Skip Lockwood, CEO of ZERO – The Project to End Prostate Cancer, a national healthcare non-profit organization dedicated to putting an end to prostate cancer.

For more information about the event, go to: http://www.ustoo.org/2010symposium

First-Time Father’s Day Program Debuts at 52 Golf Courses

SANTA MONICA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–This Father’s Day, golfers around the country can enjoy a round of golf while helping to fight prostate cancer, a disease that affects more than 2 million American men and their families. A Dollar for Dads, a new Father’s Day awareness and fundraising initiative of the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), launches June 20-21 at 52 public and private golf courses nationwide.

During Father’s Day weekend, participating golf courses will add one dollar to their greens or cart fees and provide golfers with an opportunity to make additional donations to support prostate cancer research. Courses managed by Arnold Palmer Golf Management/Century Golf Partners and OB Sports have stepped up to support the inaugural effort that the PCF plans to expand in following years. A complete list of participating golf courses can be found at www.pcf.org/dollars.

“We honor our dads on Father’s Day, making it a perfect time to raise awareness for prostate cancer and support advanced research to ensure they live long and healthy lives,” commented Chris Conway, director of golf programs for the foundation. “Too many fathers have been affected by this disease, while too many men in general choose not to talk about it at all. This program can help change that.”

One in six American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. In 2009, more than 192,000 news cases are projected to be diagnosed in the U.S. and more than 27,000 American men will die from it. It is the second most prevalent form of cancer for men after skin cancer.

About the Prostate Cancer Foundation

The Prostate Cancer Foundation is the world’s largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research focused on discovering better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer. Founded in 1993, the PCF has raised nearly $370 million and provided funding to more than 1,500 research projects at nearly 200 institutions worldwide. The PCF also advocates for greater awareness of prostate cancer and more governmental research funds. PCF advocacy has helped produce a 20-fold increase in government funding for prostate cancer since 1994. More information about prostate cancer and the PCF can be found at www.pcf.org.

Symptoms of prostate cancer typically include a variety of urinary problems — difficulty urinating, feeling the urge to urinate often, painful urination and the like. These might be early symptoms of prostate cancer but they could also be signs of benign prostate hyperplasia, or BPH. The symptoms for both conditions are similar, so you should always take these types of symptoms seriously and see your doctor about them.

Detecting Prostate Cancer Before Symptoms Appear

Here’s something about prostate cancer symptoms that not many people realize. It can be detected before the symptoms listed above even show up. This is why it’s so important for men to have prostate screening on a regular basis as part of their physical, once over the age of 45. Most men who get this form of cancer (70%) are over the age of 65, but doctors recommend screening for men over the age of 45.

So you shouldn’t rely on the early symptoms of prostate cancer as an indicator of the condition. You can be proactive through regular screening for the cancer, even when there are no symptoms. The earlier it is detected, the greater the chance of a successful treatment.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by certain cells within the prostate gland. The level of these proteins can be measured through a blood test. An abnormally high level of PSA in the blood is an indication of potential prostate cancer or possibly some benign condition with the prostate.

But with obese patients, the PSA test is harder to perform. At least, according to a recent news story in Reuters. The new findings, published in the journal Urology, suggest that because obese men’s PSA levels tend to be relatively low in general, some cancers may be missed or not detected promptly.

“Obese men have lower PSA values likely due to excess blood volume,” Freedland, the senior investigator on the study, told Reuters Health. He went on to recommend that when performing the PSA test on obese patients, doctors should adjust the value they call “abnormal” downward.

SOURCE: “Obesity may interfere with prostate cancer screen,” Reuters, June 2008.

It is therefore no coincidence that we also more cases of prostate cancer than any other country in the world.

Our love for red meat and animal fat certainly fuels the level of obesity in this country. But there is an ever-growing pool of evidence that also suggests a link between red meat and prostate cancer incidences. More specifically,  it is our high consumption of red meat that is often cited as a risk factor for prostate cancer (and a controllable risk factor at that).

This is the subject of the latest article published in the Articles section of the website:

Prostate Cancer - A Serial Killer in the Red Meat Nation

Discovering I had prostate cancer at the age of 47 was almost an accident and certainly not something that in any way I expected. I had no symptoms - none whatsoever. In layman’s terms, everything seemed to work fine. So the discovery of prostate cancer was quite accidental. It seems I had gone to my doctor simply requesting a pill (propecia - a drug to reduce hair loss). She required I have a blood test, as this drug would have an effect on my PSA. Frankly, all that was greek to me…as I didn’t know what PSA was and had never had it checked. I hated needles - had always said I was allergic to them - hence I avoided being stuck as much as I could. But on this day in November 2004 I decided to take the plunge - have my blood checked - and get the prescription.

Two days later I got a call while out of town saying that all the lab work was fine except that my PSA was a bit elevated - it was 4.58 and for someone my age that was high. My doctor referred me to a Urologist. The appointment was set.

Of course I had some concern, but after all, all the plumbing seem to work fine and I had no symptoms, so surely there was no problem. The Urologist’s exam was routine - in fact he said he thought I had nothing to worry about as he felt nothing abnormal. But, to be on the safe side he schedule a biopsy. Being fearful of needles (and a biopsy is the ultimate needle) I asked if it would hurt. His response, “Most men don’t really feel a thing.” That was a lie! Looking back, I would have asked for good drugs as that was the most painful experience I can recall.

Several days following the biopsy I received the results. Prostate Cancer! I had a Gleason score of 6 and 30% of one side of my prostate was cancerous. My heart sank as I received the news. How could I, a 47 year old healthy male, with no other medical issues have prostate cancer? And, how amazing that it was caught by a simple test that my well versed female doctor required. Looking back, her diligence saved my life.

What next?

My local doctor wanted to schedule surgery immediately. He said I had four options: (1) Radical prostotectemy (traditional surgery); (2) Radiation; (3) Hormone therapy and/or (4) Watch and wait. Again, he recommended surgery. My immediate question was how many of the surgeries that he was suggesting did he do weekly or monthly. The number was low. In the back of my mind I thought, “Hum, maybe I need someone who isn’t so surgery happy and who does this delicate removal frequently.” I was like learning to play golf - I would prefer to learn from someone who plays daily than learn from a weekend hacker. Maybe that analogy seems harsh, but after all the decision made would have lasting and profound effects.

Following the meeting with the Urologist, and after telling my family (who thought I was joking), I spent some time in research. First thing I found - based on my diagnosis - I had time to consider carefully my options. Not that nothing should be done, but I didn’t have to rush into any hasty decisions. Prostate cancer generally is slow in it’s progression. CAUTION - do not use my experience as a crutch to avoid treatment (I witnessed my father-in-law die from complications from prostate cancer), rather, seek competent medical help in making your treatment decisions.

Options Considered:

Watch and wait. Well for several months I did just that. I researched - changed my diet - considered the possibility that I could reverse what existed and even reduce the cancer. I began a regiment of daily intake of cottage cheese and flax seed oil. For a short time I actually saw a decrease in my PSA; however, that was short lived. What I did learn was that diet was important - not only for general well being - but an effective tool in promoting a cancer free body. This was valuable time in that it gave me the opportunity to consider all my options.

Radiation Therapy. Not really an option for me. While I talked with a man in his late 60’s to early 70’s who had outstanding results using focused radiation (proton therapy I think it was called), the reality is - once you opt for radiation and the tissue is destroyed, if prostate cancer returns, it cannot be surgically removed. Hence the best advice I received was, in my case, this would not be a practical option. By the way information on proton treatment can be found at http://www.protons.com/ or at http://www.llu.edu/. The people I talked with who had used this treatment were extremely pleased with the level of care they received and the overall outcome.

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU). In my search for the right treatment, I spent much time in considering this alternative. There were three practical objectives I wished to accomplish with whatever treatment I selected: (1) Cancer elimination, (2) Minimal issues with incontinence (preferably none) and (3) minimal issues with erectile function (again, preferably none). Based on my Gleason score and prostate cancer diagnosis, it seemed that this treatment would be viable. For research information visit http://www.ushifu.com/. As part of my consideration I met with Dr. George Suarez, Medical Director for USHifu. He reviewed my medical background and was kind in taking the time to discuss with me my options using this new prostate cancer treatment. Dr. Suarez took the time to explain all my options and how, if I elected, HIFU could be effective while meeting my three objectives. My only resistance was, at the time, it was not an option yet approved by the FDA in the United States, hence I would have to seek the treatment outside the scope of my medical insurance outside of the country. While I gave this serious consideration, I ultimately decided to go another route.

Radical Prostatectomy. All of the possibilities above, brought me back to the original suggestion - SURGERY. The issue I had was what kind and who would perform it. Since I had the time to research I discovered (through the wonder of the Internet) this, then, new procedure called a robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy. Hum…seemed that needed more study. Of course, at the time, Johns Hopkins Brady Urological Institute was recognized as one of the best in the world for prostate cancer research and study. After careful consideration I contacted Johns Hopkins inquiring about this seemingly new procedure - using the daVinci Surgical System. www.urology.jhu.edu/MIS/daVinci/

The folks at Johns Hopkins could not have been more caring and helpful as I sought all my treatment options. Of course, they reviewed my file carefully and spent all the time I wanted and needed to evaluate my options. Dr. Li-Ming Su was my surgeon and my hat is off to him and his skill and patience. In the end, one thing was clear - all other options being equal - surgical removal was still the “gold standard” in the fight against prostate cancer. Likewise, it appeared that this robotic assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy would meet my three objectives.

The surgery went fine - of course I don’t remember a thing - so all I can base it on what the Doctor’s report. Initially the report indicated that the cancer was contained in the prostate and the removal should yield me “cancer free.” Of course this was to be confirmed later from lab reports. The first several days following surgery were not pleasant, but tolerable. Within three days, I boarded a plane and flew home to North Carolina - travel was not a big issue. The most discomforting thing following surgery was the catheter - which remained in for three weeks.

Outcome. Within four weeks following surgery I boarded a plane to Dallas, TX to begin a new job. My energy level was back and I had minimal incontinence isses with subsided within another three weeks. Within seven weeks of surgery incontinence was not an issue. Erecticle function returned within three months (with the aid of medication) and returned to full function (without medication) within twelve months.

Now it’s been two years since surgery and all three objective have been achieved. Life is normal. I am cancer free. My sincere thanks to all who were there for me as I sought out the treatment that was right for me. I would not have the opportunity to function as a motivational speaker today if it were not for the skill and help of the fine folks at Johns Hopkins. While printing such personal items for all to read may seem (to some) out there! I feel that, perhaps, others who find themselves diagnosed with prostate cancer may learn from my experience. If you find this helpful, but still need to talk - please visit my web site: http://www.chuckgallagher.com/ and contact me through that portal. I’ll be happy to talk with you via e-mail or phone.

About The Author
Chuck Gallagher is an international speaker and author who shares his life experience in a way that is meaningful for his audiences. For information on Chuck’s presentations or how to subscribe to his free ezine…visit http://www.chuckgallagher.com.

Clinical Trial Aimed to Supplement Current Research Findings on the Treatment of Localized Prostate Cancer

TORONTO, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ — A Canadian study on High Intensity
Focused Ultrasound therapy with the Sonablate(R) 500 - a Health Canada
approved treatment for localized prostate cancer - is underway at Can-Am
HIFU. Through funding from AstraZeneca Canada Inc, Can-Am HIFU, a prostate cancer treatment centre, will conduct an REB/Health Canada approved
clinical trial. The objective of the study is to supplement current research findings on safety and efficacy of HIFU therapy in the treatment
of localized prostate cancer. The trial will measure both the biochemical
(PSA) cure rates and the Biopsy-proven cure rates at one year.

“AstraZeneca is committed to promoting excellence in Canadian health
science research and to supporting the growth of Canada’s scientific
community,” says Marc Zarenda, Scientific Director - Oncology at
AstraZeneca Canada Inc. “We are excited to put our support behind this
clinical trial.”

The nation-wide study will involve a select number of men and will be
led by Can-Am HIFU urologists Jack Barkin, MD; Laurence Klotz, MD; Sender
Herschorn, MD; Neil Fleshner, MD; Michael Robinette, MD; Antonio Finelli,
MD; and Sidney Radomski, MD. The study will play an integral role in
building Canadian data on HIFU therapy.

Currently, the data on HIFU are from studies conducted in other
countries,” said Dr. Barkin, Chief of Staff, Humber River Regional Hospital
and Director of Can-Am HIFU. “As more patients are considering HIFU as an
alternative treatment option for prostate cancer, we recognize the need to
build Canadian data on HIFU therapy.”

HIFU has been used in several countries for a number of years to treat
men with localized prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. The
therapy uses ultrasound energy to heat and destroy specifically targeted
areas of the prostate. HIFU was approved for use in the treatment of
prostate cancer in Canada in June 2005. Can-Am HIFU urologists have been
treating patients from Canada and abroad on an out-patient basis since
March 2006. Currently the Sonablate(R) 500 is undergoing clinical trials in
the United States and has not been approved for U.S. marketing by the FDA.
For more information on the study please contact Can-Am HIFU at 1 -877-
787-5906. For more information on HIFU with the Sonablate(R) 500, please
visit http://www.internationalhifu.com

About Can-Am HIFU
Can-Am HIFU is a Canadian entity of USHIFU, LLC. The clinic, located in
Toronto, was established in March 2006 and solely treats localized prostate
cancer using HIFU with the Sonablate(R) 500. Can-Am HIFU physicians include Jack Barkin, MD; Laurence Klotz, MD; Sender Herschorn, MD; Neil Fleshner,
MD; Michael Robinette, MD; Antonio Finelli, MD; and Sidney Radomski, MD.

About USHIFU
USHIFU, LLC is a development company headquartered in Charlotte, NC.
USHIFU is the exclusive distributor of the Sonablate(R) 500 in North, South
and Central America, the island nations of the Caribbean and South Africa.
The company holds a minority ownership position in Focus Surgery Inc. of
Indianapolis, the world leader in the development of HIFU products and the
manufacturer of the Sonablate(R) 500 in conjunction with Misonix, Inc
(MSON).

At this point, the patient and all doctors in attendance were
frustrated without a clear path to identify a disease process that was
begging to be discovered. JM came to the Diagnostic Center for Disease in
Sarasota, Florida, as he had heard about an exciting new scan offered that
promised to solve his personal dilemma while erasing his fear of the
unknown.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071105/CLM095 )

Presently, a new case of Prostate cancer is diagnosed every 3 minutes
while 90 men die from prostate cancer every day. Prostate Biopsy, the “gold
standard” for finding cancer of the prostate is associated with trauma,
infection, bleeding and sampling bias. National statistics show that 10 men
must undergo an ultrasound and biopsy to find 2-3 cancers. Translated
another way, 7-8 men must undergo a procedure that is unnecessary as
documented by a negative biopsy. Moreover, it is well known that a biopsy
of the prostate is associated with the possibility that cancer cells, if
encountered, may be carried outside of the prostate capsule through a
phenomenon called, “needle tracking”. Data from Pathologists show that this
phenomenon is real. The problem is compounded when it is realized that
prostate cancer is not just a disease of older men as originally thought
but rather a disease of young men as well. In fact, data from the Detroit
Autopsy Study and Memorial Sloan- Kettering shows 30% of 30 year old men
have prostate cancer.

Given the inability to diagnose prostate cancer using the traditional
system, our attention has turned to imaging to determine the presence or
absence of prostate cancer. Currently data, primarily from Europe, suggests
that prostate cancer detection with MRI-Spectroscopy (MRI-S) has a
sensitivity and specificity in the range of 89-92%. In fact, Peter
Scardino, M.D., Chairman of the Departments of Urology and Surgery at
Memorial Sloan-Kettering has called MRI-S with the 3.0 Tesla magnet, “the
next greatest diagnostic tool for prostate cancer detection”. The
Diagnostic Center for Disease, led by Urologist, Ronald E. Wheeler, M.D.,
is using this new imaging technology to assist in finding prostate cancer
in patients like JM where traditional biopsies continue to miss the lesion.
MRI-S evaluates the integrity of prostate tissue through spatial resolution
as well as the biochemical makeup of cells through a spectral analysis.
Together, this technology establishes a “finger-print” of disease when the
PSA is elevated. Once a lesion is identified, a series of targeted biopsies
can be performed, as we localize the disease in question.

Using a parametric approach, the center is utilizing all sequences of
the 3.0 T MRI-S scan including Dynamic Contrast Enhancement with
traditional prostate cancer diagnostic detection markers such as Color Flow
Doppler Ultrasound, PSA & DRE to establish a clear picture of the disease
process present. Interestingly, this technology often times allows
physicians to alter their treatment course when cancer has escaped the
prostate capsule. Furthermore, preliminary data from the Diagnostic Center
for Disease shows that the use of MRI-S coupled with DRE, PSA and
Ultrasound data provides a 75% yield in diagnosing prostate cancer compared
to the traditional 20-30% yield while using blind or random biopsies. Dr.
Wheeler’s mission is to provide a comprehensive approach to Prostate
Disease detection that while reproducible, is more patient friendly,
allowing Urologists to improve their diagnostic skills, thereby improving
their patient treatment outcomes.

While using the MRI-S scan as a “road map”, JM needed only 5 targeted
biopsies to find the elusive cancer while preventing “needle tracking”.
Subsequent pathology showed a Gleason Score of 7 (3+4). According to Dr.
Wheeler, “while many options of treatment remain for JM, he can at least
sleep better knowing the hidden disease that was chasing him had been
found”.

For more information, please visit http://www.MrisUSA.com or call
1-866-674-7872.

S.T.A.R Program Brings Together Researchers from North America’s
Leading Prostate Cancer Centers

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ — Safeway Inc. and the Prostate
Cancer Foundation today announced they will collectively donate $6 million
to fund the S.T.A.R. Program (for Special Team Amplification of Research),
an innovative research initiative focused on exploring the role of targeted
heat in cancer therapy to treat prostate cancer, as well as other research
strategies.

The S.T.A.R. Program is being launched for the first phase of research
and development with a $3 million grant from the Safeway Foundation which
raised the funds from its customers with donations made at checkout. The
Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) developed the collaborative research
partnership and matched the initial funds dollar-for-dollar, for a total $6
million commitment. PCF is the world’s largest philanthropic source of
support for prostate cancer research and has funded ten of the individual
scientists making up the S.T.A.R. North American team.

The program brings together an interdisciplinary team of investigators
from multiple prominent cancer research centers. The team consists of
investigators from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (program
lead and coordinator), the University of Michigan Cancer Center and the
University of British Columbia.

Additional expertise will be leveraged through the Prostate Cancer
Foundation from the University of Washington, and from M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center and Emory University. This unique program will bring expertise
throughout the cancer research and treatment communities to focus on a new
approach to prostate cancer treatment. “Similar to the program that Robert
Goddard put in place to make space flight a reality, everyone that has
input will be invited to the table to be part of the solution,” noted
Jonathan Simons, M.D., CEO and President of the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

“The S.T.A.R. Program is evidence of what can happen when you link the
fundraising power of a major company like Safeway with the research vision
of the Prostate Cancer Foundation,” emphasized Simons. “This program would
not have happened without Safeway and its long-standing commitment to
helping find a cure for prostate cancer. We are literally turning up the
heat on metastatic prostate cancer research.” Prostate cancer strikes more
than 218,000 men each year making it the most commonly diagnosed cancer in
men. It also is one of the most deadly cancers, with more than 27,000 men
dying each year from the disease, making it second only to lung cancer as a
leading cause of cancer deaths in men.

“Supporting this kind of innovative research has become a trademark of
the Prostate Cancer Foundation, and the principle reason Safeway developed
a relationship with the organization more than seven years ago,” said
Safeway Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Steve Burd. “We
are pleased and honored to be associated with the S.T.A.R. Program
initiative and what promises to be pioneering work by some of the world’s
top cancer researchers,” Mr. Burd said.

In another innovative effort, the S.T.A.R. Program will convene a
“think tank” of some 70 experts in different areas of oncology from across
the nation to explore the question of why current therapies cure some types
of cancer but not others. The learnings from this effort will give
direction to future research on prostate cancer and other types of common
solid tumors that are currently the most difficult to treat.

“We are grateful to the leadership of Safeway and the Prostate Cancer
Foundation for this special effort,” said Robert Getzenberg, Ph.D.,
Director of Research, Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins. “This
unique approach and highly interactive team will develop these new concepts
and extend them from the laboratory through testing in clinical trials to
the patient setting,” Getzenberg said.

The theory that heat can be used to help kill cancer cells comes from
an observation and review of scientific evidence by cancer researchers at
Johns Hopkins that testicular cancer patients, like seven-time Tour de
France winner Lance Armstrong, have much higher rates of survival than
others with different kinds of advanced cancer. Testicular cancer begins in
the testes, which are a few degrees cooler than the rest of the body. The
structural machinery of cancer cells spreading outside the testes may be
altered by the higher body temperatures, making them more susceptible to
standard chemotherapy treatments than other cancer types.

While heat therapy is in limited experimental use, researchers believe
the key to an effective treatment may be selectively heating cancer cells,
which can also prevent damage in adjacent healthy tissues. The goal, note
S.T.A.R. team members, is to find out the best way to deliver heat directly
to cancer cells. To do so, some of the S.T.A.R. Program researchers will
investigate the use of nanoparticles that are attracted to specific
proteins carried by cancer cells. Once the nanoparticle locates this
specific protein, it can enter the cancer cell, heating it from the inside
out after exposure to a magnetic field. The S.T.A.R. Program team will look
at this and other mechanisms for targeted heat delivery systems to cancer
cells.

In addition to Dr. Getzenberg at Johns Hopkins, the research team for
the S.T.A.R. Program includes:

– Theodore L. DeWeese, M.D., Professor and Department Chairman of
Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine (Baltimore)
– Donald Coffey, Ph.D., Professor of Urology, Oncology, Pathology,
Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School
of Medicine (Baltimore)
– Kenneth Pienta, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and Surgery,
and Director of the NCI Research Center in Prostate Cancer at the
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
– Martin Gleave, M.D., Professor of Urology, Director of Clinical
and Translational Research, The Prostate Centre, University of
British Columbia (Vancouver)

About Safeway, Inc.
Safeway Inc. is one of the largest food and drug retailers in North
America. The company operates over 1,700 stores in the Western,
Southwestern, Rocky Mountain, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States
and in western Canada. The Safeway Foundation has become a major source of
support to cancer research and treatment programs as well as to people with
disabilities and education programs. 2007 marked the seventh consecutive
year that Safeway has been raising awareness and funds for prostate cancer
research in partnership with the Prostate Cancer Foundation; during this
time, Safeway has raised nearly $29 million. http://www.safeway.com.

About the Prostate Cancer Foundation
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is the world’s largest
philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research. Founded in
1993, the PCF has raised more than $300 million and provided funding for
prostate cancer research to more than 1,400 researchers at 100 institutions
worldwide. The PCF has a simple, yet urgent goal: to find better treatments
and a cure for recurrent prostate cancer.
http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org.