Phase I Trial
of PC-Spes2 in Advanced Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer
Shabbir M, et al. Department of Urology, Frimley Park
Hospital, Portsmouth Road, Surrey GU16 7UJ, UK. majidshabbir@hotmail.com.
There are few treatment options for prostate cancer once it becomes hormone
refractory, with a mean life expectancy of 9-12 months. During the period
1997-2002, a product known as PC-Spes, containing a mixture of extracts from
eight herbs based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, was
reported to inhibit prostate cancer cell growth in vitro and reduce PSA in
patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). This product was
withdrawn from the market in 2002 due to concerns over quality control and
reported contamination with traces of warfarin, indomethacin and
diethylstilbesterol. PC-spes2, manufactured by Active Botanicals Ltd. (UK) with
strict, independently-conducted quality control, has demonstrated no
contaminants by high pressure liquid chromatography and liquid
chromatography/mass spectroscopy. This compound was investigated in a
single-centre, prospective, open pilot study. Eighteen patients with HRPC, mean
age 72, median Gleason sum 8 (range 4-9) and median PSA 110 (range 4-2870) with
three consecutive monthly increases in PSA were studied. Ten patients withdrew
during the study period with significant diarrhoea (8 out of the first 10
patients at one month and only 2 out of the last 8 due to an improved dosing
schedule). At one month, 7 out of 10 patients had a drop in their PSA doubling
time or PSA velocity, which was still apparent in 4 out of 5 patients still on
trial at three months and all three patients still on trial at six months. No
serious adverse events or derangement of coagulation were observed. PC-Spes2
offers renewed hope and a safe alternative treatment option for patients with
advanced HRPC. Further investigation with phase II trials is warranted.
Oncol Rep. 2008 Mar;19(3):831-5.
Source PubMed
[TOP]
Trigger Point
Acupuncture for Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
Itoh K, Hirota S, Katsumi Y, Ochi H, Kitakoji H.
BACKGROUND: There is evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture treatment in knee
osteoarthritis, but it remains unclear which acupuncture modes are most
effective. We evaluated the effects of trigger point acupuncture on pain and
quality of life in knee osteoarthritis patients, compared with acupuncture at
standard points, and sham acupuncture. METHODS: Thirty patients (27 women, 3
men; aged 61-82 years) with non-radiating knee osteoarthritis pain for at least
six months and normal neurological examination were randomised to one of three
groups for the study period of 21 weeks. Each group received five acupuncture
treatment sessions. The standard acupuncture point group (n=10) received
treatment at traditional acupuncture points for knee pain; the trigger point
acupuncture group (n=10) received treatment at trigger points; and the third
group (n=10) received sham acupuncture treatment at the trigger points. Outcome
measures were pain intensity (visual analogue scale, VAS) and WOMAC index
(Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index). The groups were
compared by the area under the curve method. RESULTS: Five patients dropped out
of the study because of lack of improvement, and one patient (in the trigger
point acupuncture group) dropped out because of deterioration of symptoms; the
remaining 24 patients were included in the analysis. After treatment, the
trigger point acupuncture group reported less pain intensity on VAS than the
standard acupuncture or sham treatment group, but both the trigger point
acupuncture and standard acupuncture groups reported improvement of function of
knee. There was a significant reduction in pain intensity between pre-treatment
and five weeks after treatment for the trigger point acupuncture (P<0.01) and
standard acupuncture groups (P<0.01) included in the analysis, but not for the
sham treatment group. Group comparison using the area under the curves
demonstrated a significant difference only between trigger point acupuncture and
sham treatment groups analysed (P<0.025 for VAS, and P<0.031 for WOMAC).
CONCLUSION: These results suggest that trigger point acupuncture therapy may be
more effective for osteoarthritis of the knee in some elderly patients than
standard acupuncture therapy.
Acupunct Med. 2008 Mar;26(1):17-26.
Source: PubMed
[TOP]
The Effects of
Rhizoma Curculiginis and Rhizoma Drynariae Extracts on Bones
Wong RW, et al. Biomedical and Tissue Engineering Research
Group, University of Hong Kong, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, 34 Hospital Road,
Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong SAR, China. fyoung@hkucc.hku.hk.
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Rhizoma Curculiginis (Xianmao) and Rhizoma Drynariae (Gusuibu)
are 'Yang-tonifying' traditional Chinese herbal medicines used to strengthen
bones. This investigation aims to assess the systemic effect of extracts of
Rhizoma Curculiginis and Rhizoma Drynariae on bone histomorphology and
formation, and their local effect on bone healing. METHODS: For the
investigation of the systemic effect, thirty 8-week-old male BALB/c mice were
divided into three groups: (1) control group, ten mice fed daily with distilled
water; (2) Rhizoma Curculiginis group, ten mice fed daily with distilled water
mixed with Rhizoma Curculiginis extract; (3) Rhizoma Drynarie group, ten mice
fed daily with distilled water mixed with Rhizoma Drynarie extract. The mice
were fed for five weeks before sacrifice. Twenty micro-tomographic slices with
an increment of 0.25 mm were prepared to cover the proximal end of the left
tibia of each mouse. Quantitative morphometry of the bone structure was
performed. For the investigation of the local effect on bone healing, two bone
defects (5 x 10 mm) were created in the parietal bone of each of the three New
Zealand white rabbits. Two defects in the first animal were grafted with
collagen matrix with Rhizoma Curculiginis extract; two defects in the second
animal were grafted with collagen matrix with Rhizoma Drynarie extract; two
defects in the third (control) animal were grafted with collagen matrix alone.
The animals were sacrificed on day 14 and the defects were dissected and
prepared for histological and ultrastructural assessment. RESULTS: Rhizoma
Curculiginis and Rhizoma Drynariae extracts altered the bone histomorphology,
both increasing the trabecular number by 10% (P = 0.002). Rhizoma Curculiginis
extract increased bone density by 3.13% (P = 0.122) and Rhizoma Drynariae
extract increased bone density by 6.45% (P = 0.005). Both Rhizoma Curculiginis
and Rhizoma Drynariae extracts induced new bone formation on the margins of the
defects. CONCLUSION: Two 'Yang-tonifying' herbs, Rhizoma Curculiginis and
Rhizoma Drynariae, were demonstrated to have systemic effects on bone
histomorphology and formation as well as local bone healing.
Chin Med. 2007 Dec 19;2:13.
Source: PubMed [TOP] |
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