Prostate cancer is a common occurrence in the aging population, with one in ten men destined
to develop the disease. 40% of patients with prostate cancer experience a recurrence after
definitive treatment. This study addresses the as-yet unresolved problem of the optimal
management of early recurrence as manifested by increase in the accepted marker for this
disease, PSA. Vitamin D, an agent with cell-differentiating properties, has been shown to
inhibit angiogenesis and cause differentiation of prostate cancer cells in the laboratory and
to affect PSA favorably in clinical studies of patients with advanced prostate cancer. This
study will assess the effects of vitamin D in patients with sub-clinical biochemical relapses
of prostate cancer as indicated by rising PSA but low tumor burdens, with the potential for
developing an approach to this problem that will delay or prevent progression.
Phase:
Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
US Department of Veterans Affairs VA Office of Research and Development