High-dose vitamin D to be tested as prostate cancer treatment
Last Updated: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 | 10:59 AM PT
CBC News
Related
Internal Links
Canadian and international researchers are recruiting men for a clinical trial to test whether combining a high-dose vitamin D pill with chemotherapy improves treatment for advanced prostate cancer.
Dr. Kim Chi of the B.C. Cancer Agency and two other lead investigators will study about 1,000 men over the next two years.
Currently, there is little to offer prostate cancer patients who have stopped responding to standard hormone therapy, Chi said.
The clinical trial will test a high-dose pill of calcitriol, a biologically active form of vitamin D and a naturally occurring hormone, together with the chemotherapy drug docetaxel.
Researchers will compare survival rates among patients with advanced prostate cancer.
The treatment is designed to reduce the toxic side-effects linked to high-dose supplements.
It's estimated that 20,700 men in this country will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and 4,200 will die from the disease, according to the Canadian Cancer Society.
With files from the Canadian PressShare Tools
Latest British Columbia News Headlines
- Former Stanley Park petting zoo goats feared slaughtered
- The chair of Vancouver's park board says she's outraged at the possible slaughter of goats that used to live at the Stanley Park farmyard. more »
- New Westminster man saves woman from house fire
- A New Westminster, B.C., man is being called a hero after rescuing a woman from the balcony of a burning home early Sunday morning. more »
- Adults-only trade show cancelled in B.C. Bible belt
- Organizers of an adults-only trade show say they're cancelling a three-day event that was scheduled to take place in British Columbia's Bible belt. more »
- Canada fails to advance to Davis Cup quarters
- Canada failed to advance to the Davis Cup quarter-finals Sunday as France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat surprise substitute Frank Dancevic in straight sets in Vancouver. more »
Top News Headlines
- Adele wins best album, best record Grammys
- Adele capped off a "life-changing" year by winning six Grammys Sunday night, including record of the year and album of the year for 21 more »
- Hit and run victim's family fears accused will walk
- The family of a young mother killed in a hit and run is outraged that the case against the alleged driver is among thousands in B.C. at risk of being thrown out because of a huge court backlog. more »
- CBC launches digital music service
- CBC is diving into the world of online music with the goal of providing listeners access to their favourite tunes and a way to discover new artists and connect with fellow music fans. more »
- Is it time to start investing in world markets yet?
- Investors have always been told that diversification is one of the best ways to reduce the risk associated with a portfolio, but they often aren't told the whole story. more »
- Hit and run victim's family fears accused will walk
- Former Stanley Park petting zoo goats feared slaughtered
- Adults-only trade show cancelled in B.C. Bible belt
- New Westminster man saves woman from house fire
- B.C. vets call for ban on dog docking, cropping
- Crane drops section of Port Mann bridge into B.C. river
- Langley man struck, killed by train
- RCMP request retraction over 'slanderous' article
- Emailed rave rape pictures earn teen probation
