BBC News: Index Finger Length Prostate Cancer Clue

Fergus Walsh: Can finger length predict your risk of disease?

The original research from which the articles were written was published in the British Journal of Cancer 2010, November of which I am one of the authors:

Short Communication

Hand pattern indicates prostate cancer risk

1Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; 2Health Sciences ResearchInstitute, Warwick Medical School, Warwick University, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK; 3Nottingham Urology Centre, Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust,Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK; 4Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheff ield S10 2JF, UK; 5School of Biomedical sciences, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; 6CR-UK Genetic Epidemiology Unit, Strangeways Research Laboratories, Worts Causeway, Cambridge CB1 8RN, UK; 7The Institute of Cancer Research, 15 Cotswold Road, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5 NG, UK; 8Royal Devon and Exeter NHS

Foundation Trust, Barrack Road, Exeter EX2 5DW, UK; 9The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Downs Road, Sutton SM2 5PT, UK; 10Children’s Brain Tumour Research, Division of Child Health, University of Nottingham, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.

BACKGROUND: The ratio of digit lengths is fixed in utero, and may be a proxy indicator for prenatal testosterone levels.

METHODS: We analysed the right-hand pattern and prostate cancer risk in 1524 prostate cancer cases and 3044 population-based

controls.

RESULTS: Compared with index finger shorter than ring finger (low 2D : 4D), men with index finger longer than ring finger (high

2D : 4D) showed a negative association, suggesting a protective effect with a 33% risk reduction (odds ratio (OR) 0.67, 95%

confidence interval (CI) 0.57–0.80). Risk reduction was even greater (87%) in age group o60 (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.09–0.21).

CONCLUSION: Pattern of finger lengths may be a simple marker of prostate cancer risk, with length of 2D greater than 4D suggestive of  lower risk.

Moustache Growing Month Gathers Mo-mentum

The researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center say the combination of the two drugs reduced the size of tumors in lab mice while alleviating damage to the heart at the same time.  Doxorubicin, the anti-cancer chemotherapy drug,  has been used for decades to treat several cancers, including the prostate, but it has a big downside: The drug has been associated with irreversible heart damage, which presents several years after treatment stops.

For the past 15 years, researchers have been working to find a drug that protects against heart damage without compromising the effectiveness of the chemo drug – and it looks like Viagra, generically known as sildenafil, could be the perfect fit. ” We believe sildenafil could be an excellent candidate for incorporation into cancer treatment protocols with the potential of enhancing the anti-tumor efficacy, while protecting the heart against both short-term and long-term damage from doxorubicin,” said principal investigator, Dr, Rakesh C. Kukreja, in a news release. My team and I are hoping to move the research forward to a clinical trial and plans are under way to do so,” he said.”

The clinical trial would evaluate the effectiveness of the drug combination in cancer patients. These findings were originally published in September2010.

It is known that there is a 30% and upwards failure rate in the accuracy of diagnosis of prostate cancer with current methods.  The TargetScan systems shows clear 3D images of the prostate.  Using readings of 1mm compared to the 5mm that has been previously available, the TargetScan system builds up a clear 3D image of the prostate.

The whole system works very quickly so that the time taken to complete the scan is reduced considerably compared to previous methods: a reduction from 15 minutes to 1 minute. For patients it is also more comfortable as the probe does not need to to be moved in and out as previously.

The 3d image provided by the TargetScan is a complete image of the prostate so that during the scan, the clinician can quickly locate and recognise the areas of the prostate that need direct treatment.

The difference with this test is that it looks at auto-antibodies for cancer, similar to the auto-antibodies associated with autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.   The research group based in Oxford who are developing the test, have explained that it focuses on trying to find the antibodies that are produced in the early stages of cancer. By identifying cancer in the early stage, it becomes more treatable.

The other positive aspect of this test is that it can differentiate between actual prostate cancer from a more benign condition. The test is currently being used in a large follow-on study of which the analysis should be ready next year.  If it becomes licensed, it looks as if it will have the capacity to be more specific which the current PSA blood test, although very sensitive, does not have good specificity which leads to many unwanted tests.

The prostate medication, Tamsulosin Hydrochloride, is available as Flomax Relief and will cost 16.99 for a month’s supply. This is the first time in the world that this medication is available without a doctor’s script.

Positive Points

This is a very effective drug at improving urinary symptoms in men with prostatic obstruction within a few days of starting the medication.  Many studies show significant reduction in symptoms and more effective bladder emptying on flow rate testing.

Negative Points

The drug does not prevent the progression of BPH and is only effective whilst being taken. It does not reduce the need for surgery in the long term.  Some men experience dizziness and abdominal side effects.

In fact, it is always wise to consult your GP or see a urologist to check first before taking this or any other similar medication.

A study conducted in Seattle followed up over 1000 consecutive patients who had a radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer between 1954 and 1997. Thirty years after surgery the survival in those predicted disease-specific was 76% and 81% had a metastasis-free survival. The lead clinician in the study was Daniel J Lewinshtein who found that 78.5% of men remain free of metastases and prostate cancer mortality 25 years after surgery.

Due to limits in data collection, the study team had 20 years of PSA data. From this they identified that 35% of men having had a radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer experienced suboptimal PSA recurrence.

Of those men who died, the median time to death was 19 years. The significant predictors of prostate cancer mortality were preoperative PSA, lymph node invasion, PSA relapse and distant relapse.

One of the main comments about this study was that as the study group started in 1954, many men would not have had a PSA taken. The introduction of the PSA test has lead to earlier diagnosis so it is entirely feasible that outcomes from those men pre PSA would be different from those post PSA which would have an adverse effect on the overall results

The use of the PCA3 prostate test (Prostate CAncer gene 3) as a prostate cancer screening tool is becoming more widespread. Five areas of use can be considered.

The first use is for men who have had a raised PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) level and one or more negative biopsies. When used in conjunction with the PSA test, the PCA3 urine test was more accurate diagnostically which in turn lead to more appropriate cancer prostate treatment.  Studies in Europe and the US have found that an increase in the PCA3 score directly correlates with an increasing risk of positive biopsy outcome.

Secondly, the PCA3 prostate test can be used where men present with a family history of prostate cancer and a normal PSA level. Clinical evidence has found that a high PCA3 score correctly predicted a positive prostate biopsy.

The third use is for those men who present with a raised PSA level and where it is uncertain whether an initial prostate biopsy is required. A european study identified that a raised PSA followed by a PCA3 test with a low score, negative prostate biopsies are the most probably outcome.

The PCA3 urine test can also be used to guide biopsy decisions in men with elevated PSA level and a concomitant prostate condition. There is a small amount of scientific evidence to indicate that in this group of men, a negative prostate biopsy would follow a PCA3 Score that was low.

Finally, where prostate cancer has already been diagnosed, the use of the PCA3 urine test can assist in the management of care. Studies suggest that a low PCA3 score identifies those who would be suitable for active surveillance.

Experiments showed that eating a diet rich in walnuts reduced the size and growth rate of prostate cancer in mice. Scientists believe that the secret lies in walnuts’ ability to reduce levels of endothelin, a substance that increases inflammation of blood vessels.

Researchers from the University of California decided to test the benefits of eating walnuts because people who suffer prostate cancer are known to have higher levels of endothelin.They found that mice which were fed on walnuts developed prostate cancers around 50 per cent smaller than a control group which were given soya bean oil instead.

Dr Paul Davis, who headed the study, said: “Walnuts should be part of a prostate-healthy diet.“They should be part of a balanced diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables.”The researchers deliberately chose to feed the animals the equivalent of about a handful of actual nuts each day rather than a supplement-like extract.”We decided to use whole walnuts in the diet because when a single component of a food linked to cancer prevention has been tested as a supplement, that food’s cancer-preventive effects disappear in most cases,” said Dr Davis.

Around 35,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and 10,000 die from the condition.
Although susceptibility may be partly inherited, experts believe the disease is strongly linked to environmental factors such as diet. Walnuts are packed with health-giving substances including omega-3 fatty acids, an inflammation-fighting form of vitamin E, polyphenol plant compounds and antioxidants.

The new findings were presented to the 239th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Francisco.
Helen Rippon, head of research management at The Prostate Cancer Charity, said: “This new research, which is yet to be fully peer-reviewed, does provide new clues about the development of prostate cancer and how a man’s diet might help prevent the disease by regulating their hormone levels and the way that genes work.”

More valuable information about diet and Prostate Cancer can be found here.

NHS Patients should be screened for Prostate Cancer says Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The composer was diagnosed with the disease last October and is still recovering from his treatment.

However, he said often the cancer is discovered too late because the symptoms are considered embarrassing and the authorities are reluctant to tackle it.

He said: “Men don’t want to talk about it because it affects the sex life and things that men don’t like. The National Health doesn’t screen men regularly as they do now with women for breast cancer.

“I don’t think they would know what to do with all the people who would be found positive. I don’t think the resources exist,” he told the Radio Times.

Lord Lloyd-Webber, who has enjoyed spectacular success in the West End with musicals such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, has just launched Love Never Dies, the sequel to Phantom of the Opera, as well as a BBC TV series searching for cast members for The Wizard of Oz, called Over the Rainbow.

It was during the recording of Love Never Dies that Lord Lloyd-Webber hade had a “funny feeling” that something was wrong.

He said: “I did know that something was very odd. When I finished the recording of the album I thought I should have the tests done and be checked out. I didn’t know I had the cancer but I did have a funny feeling that something was wrong. I didn’t articulate it like that. I didn’t think, ‘I must get it out of me.’ Nothing showed up on the tests. It was only later, when the biopsy was done…”

The composer said that side effects included losing his sex drive.

He said: “How are the side effects? “Getting your continence back happens pretty quickly. I swim quite a lot. I didn’t find that difficult. Sex drive does take a while to come back but, frankly, I’ve had five children, so in my case it’s probably not a bad idea!”

Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men in Britain, with 35,000 being diagnosed in the country annually, most being over 50 years of age.

Of those, more than 10,000 – just over a third – die as a result of the disease every year.