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Advancements
in Clinical and Basic Science Research from the University
of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Contents:
From the Editor
Recent Changes in Michigan’s Prostate Cancer
Incidence: What Does It Mean?
PSA Screening, Surgery and Recombinant Vaccine
Gene Therapy: A Strategy to Reduce Prostate Cancer Mortality
New Therapy for Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer
NCI Grant to University of Michigan Targets Prostate
Cancer
Of Interest
Editor
Laurence H. Baker, D.O.
Deputy Director and
Director for Clinical Research
U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center
Assistant Editor
Maria McKinney White
Director
Marketing and Public Relations
Home Page:
http://www.med.umich.edu/cancer
Michigan Oncology Journal
Copyright ©1998
University of Michigan
Comprehensive Cancer Center
From the Editor
Among health professionals concerned with cancer, few issues
rival the intensity of debate now raging on the subject of
prostate cancer. Of the more than 40,000 patients who will
die this year of prostate cancer, not to mention the effect
on families and friends, the debate seems ludicrous. However,
to those concerned for the overall public health of our society
and the limited financial resources available, the debate
over PSA screening is very much a continued concern. Will
broad screening of PSA lead to improved survival? Why hasn’t
survival improved? And for those diagnosed with metastatic
cancer, what are the therapeutic options?
These are the subjects discussed in this issue of the Journal.
Drs. John Wei and Rodney Hayward, from the departments of
Surgery (Urology) and Internal Medicine, discuss the controversy
and its meaning to the citizens of Michigan. They also discuss
their approach using a case control study design to answer
this question.
Dr. Martin Sanda, from the departments of Surgery (Urology)
and Internal Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), discusses his
views on the PSA screening debate and lessons learned from
his experiences at the Johns Hopkins’ urology program
with Drs. Walsh and Coffey. Sanda also describes his experience
with a novel recombinant vaccine strategy, which uses a poxvirus
encoding a specific tumor associated antigen (PSA) that is
administered to patients in the setting of intermittent androgen
blockade. The goal of this therapy is to induce PSA-specific
T cells cytotoxic to prostate cancer.
Drs. David C. Smith and Kenneth Pienta, from the Department
of Internal Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), describe their
current treatment strategies for patients with hormone-refractory
metastatic prostate cancer. They review the importance of
maintaining castration levels of testosterone even in the
setting of hormone refractoriness, and the series of clinical
trials Pienta and others have developed using the nuclear
matrix as a target of prostate cancer chemotherapy. The ongoing
trial is now a four-drug regimen including estramustine, etoposide,
taxol and carboplatin.
Briefly described is the SPORE (Specialized Program of Research
Excellence) in prostate cancer awarded to Pienta and his colleagues.
There are only two other such grant awards in the U.S. Clearly,
we at the University of Michigan Cancer Center are most proud
of our Prostate Oncology Program under the suburb leadership
of Drs. Ken Pienta and James Montie. The SPORE award is only
one example of why we are proud.
Laurence H. Baker, D.O.
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