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Selenium in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer

Phase II Chemoprevention Trial of Selenium and Prostate Cancer (Watchful Waiting With Selenium Trial)

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00752739
Enrollment
220
Registered
2008-09-15
Start date
2002-08-31
Completion date
2007-04-30
Last updated
2012-08-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Prostate Cancer

Keywords

adenocarcinoma of the prostate, stage I prostate cancer, stage II prostate cancer, stage III prostate cancer, stage IV prostate cancer

Brief summary

RATIONALE: Selenium may prevent or slow the growth of prostate cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying how well selenium works in treating patients with prostate cancer.

Detailed description

OBJECTIVES: * To investigate the ability of selenium to prevent progression in patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate. * To investigate the ability of selenium to effectively modulate biomarkers of prostate cancer. * To determine if selenium modifies the progression of prostate cancer based on an analysis of initial biopsy, subsequent blood biomarkers, and urological symptoms. * To further establish the safety of chronic supplementation with selenium in these patients. OUTLINE: Patients are stratified according to Gleason score (low vs moderate). Patients are randomized to 1 of 3 treatment arms. * Arm I: Patients receive oral placebo once daily for 48 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. * Arm II: Patients receive low-dose oral selenium once daily for 48 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. * Arm III: Patients receive high-dose oral selenium once daily for 48 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Blood and tissue samples are collected periodically for biomarker laboratory studies. Blood samples are analyzed for levels of prostate-specific antigen, chromogranin A, alkaline phosphatase, alpha tocopherol, lycopene, and other vitamins; levels of selenium by atomic absorption spectrometry; and oxidative damage to DNA. Tissue samples are analyzed for levels of Bcl-2, p53, Ki-67, thioredoxin reductase, thioredoxin, and glutathione peroxidase by immunohistochemistry and for apoptotic index by TUNEL assay. Patients complete urological symptom questionnaires and other questionnaires periodically.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTselenium

Given orally

OTHERplacebo

Given orally

Sponsors

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorNIH
University of Arizona
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
No minimum to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Biopsy-proven adenocarcinoma of the prostate within the past 48 months * Prostate-specific antigen \< 50 ng/mL * Gleason score \< 8 * Currently undergoing watchful waiting for prostate cancer * No metastatic disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Life expectancy ≥ 3 years * AST and ALT ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN * No other malignancy within the past 5 years, except nonmelanoma skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No prior hormone therapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or surgery for prostate cancer * At least 90 days since prior and no concurrent selenium (as a dietary supplement or as part of a multivitamin) exceeding 50 mcg/day

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Rate of rise in serum prostate-specific antigen
Rate of rise in chromogranin A and alkaline phosphatase
Disease progression

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Time to prostate cancer therapy
Time to metastases
Symptoms of selenium toxicity

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026