Yale University in Connecticut is conducting a very interesting phase II clinical trial on a drug called Phenoxodiol for men with castrate and noncastrate prostate cancer. Phenoxodiol has been undergoing trials in Australia with promising results. The good news is that most men do not seem to have any negative side effects from the drug.

Two groups of patients with prostate cancer will be enrolled in this trial:

Group A: Patients whose cancer has worsened or spread after being on hormonal therapy and have not had any chemotherapy.

Group B: Patients who have a rising PSA after surgery or radiotherapy for the prostate and do not have any spread to the bones or other organs.

    How Phenoxodiol works

Cells, like water softeners, use ion exchange pumps. Phenoxodiol brings about cancer cell suicide (apoptosis) and necrosis (decay) by targeting the tumor cell’s positive ion excretion pump. It is hoped that Phenoxodoil will disrupt the cell’s growth potential by slowing signals along the sphingosine1-phosphate and Akt (S1P) signaling pathways.

Normally, the S1P signaling pathway helps cells, both normal and cancerous, to grow. The expectation is that Phenoxodoil will disrupt the pathway thereby controlling tumor growth.

The trial is small, open to only 60 men.

You can read about the trial at: The Phenoxodiol Trial

Remember, before starting any trial you should discuss it with your doctor.

Joel T. Nowak MA, MSW