Fw: AR-5 inhibitors and biopsy

[Guest guest]

During the years when PC-SPES was available and being used by many thousands of men there was much discussion as to what exactly the formula was doing to cancer cells. Men whom had earlier show tumors and tumor activity on endo-rectal MRI's were now presenting themselves with no such activity. However, when they stopped taking PC-SPES, their MRI scans reverted back to what they looked like during thier first scans showing tumors and tumor activity. Some researchers back then theorized that the formula was doing something to ''mask'' the appearance of the cells and even took to demanding that patients not take PC-SPES or anything like it prior to having an MRI. . The issue was never really resolved because Botanticlab went out of

business, PC-SPES was no longer being manufactured and Sophie Chen, the researcher who invented the formula ,was unavailable for qeustions having left her job at Columbia Presbytarian and moved on to the U.K. and took a research position in that country.

So, although it remains a lingering question mark, it appears that there has not been any new research on the issue to resolve the question that you pose. I think that Small at UCSF had done the most work on PC-SPES and if you look him up, perhaps some of his papers may make reference to your question.

BOB

----- Forwarded Message -----To: ProstateCancerSupport Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 7:46 PMSubject: RE: AR-5 inhibitors and biopsy

I remember asking some of these questions early in my diagnosis. The doctors wanted to use neo-adjuvant hormone therapy on me before surgery. I was concerned that it would effect the pathology. My urologist said it would be they would know how to make allowances for it. That was about as far as we got.

From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto: ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of LYNNSent: Monday, July 25, 2011 1:42 PMTo: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: AR-5 inhibitors and biopsy

I think I read something that said if you were on Finisteride/Proscar that this would change how the cells look in a biopsy. Is that correct? If that is true, here are my questions: After you are off the drugs for awhile, do the cells return to looking like "regular" cancer cells at any point? Or if you have been on one of these drugs, will the cells always look different? Does it matter how long you were on the drugs? If you were on them for only about 3 months, would these changes occur? Is there a point to having a biopsy after taking them or do you just tell the doctor so that they can tell the pathologist?Thanks for all of your help.Lynn