open-label extension study of the effects of pomegranate extract on rising psa after primary therapy for prostate cancer

Conditions: Prostate Cancer

Summary: this study is an open-label extension to the double-blind gup-0205-1 and double-blind extension gup-0205-1xx studies. high concentrations of anti-oxidants in pomegranate seeds present a potential strategy to delay clinical prostate cancer progression and prolong the interval from treatment failure to hormonal ablation. eligible male subjects were previously assigned to the placebo group in the double-blind core study or the double-blind extension study and were diagnosed with disease progression while on placebo treatment. upon satisfying all entry criteria, the subjects will receive open-label pomegranate extract for up to 48 months in the absence of further disease progression or intolerable toxicity.

this study is an open-label extension to the double-blind gup-0205-1 and double-blind extension gup-0205-1xx studies. eligible male subjects, i.e.,men who had rising psa levels following primary therapy for localized prostate cancer, were previously assigned to the placebo group in the double-blind study or the double-blind extension and were diagnosed with disease progression while on placebo treatment. upon satisfying all entry criteria, the subjects will receive open-label pomegranate extract for up to 48 months in the absence of further disease progression or intolerable toxicity.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * documented disease progression while on placebo in the gup-0205-1 or gup-0205-1xx study (a ≥100% increase over baseline serum psa with a minimum increase of 1.0 ng/ml. * willingness and ability to sign an informed consent document. * agreement with complete abstinence from other commercially available pomegranate products during the course of the study. * use of dietary/herbal supplements (e.g., saw palmetto, selenium, etc) are acceptable provided the dose has been stable for at least 2 months prior to screening and the subject agrees not to change/stop during the course of the study. * performance status 0 or 1 on the ecog scale at time of entry into this extension study. exclusion criteria: * significant concomitant medical or psychiatric condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would make the subject a poor protocol candidate. * hormonal therapy, with the exception of neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (adt) prior to or concurrent with primary therapy. subjects who underwent neoadjuvant adt cannot have a serum testosterone of ≤150 ng/ml at study entry. * concomitant or antecedent hormonal therapy for rising serum psa after initial therapy of prostate cancer. * subjects unable or unwilling to comply with protocol requirements. * prior treatment with experimental drugs, high dose steroids, or with any other cancer treatment within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study product and for the duration of the study. * serum psa \>7.0 ng/ml (assessed at termination of the double-blind study or et of the double-blind extension gup-0205-1xx); at any psa level, the subject will be excluded if determined by the investigator that the subject's continued participation would not be in their best interest). * serum psa doubling time \<13 weeks (assessed at termination of the double-blind study or et of the double-blind extension gup-0205-1xx)). * evidence of metastatic disease on physical examination or on ct or bone scan. * use of finasteride, dutasteride at any point since primary therapy or during the study. * clinically significant abnormal laboratory value greater than 2 times the upper limit of normal (\>2xuln).

Keywords: prostate cancer prostate-specific antigens psa