Friday, 18 May 2012
Do I Use Abiraterone or Salvestrol ?
I had a RP over 6 yrs. ago and now my urologist wants to start me on a total androgen blockade because of the rate that my PSA is rising { current level of 1.42 }. I am 68.
Do I use Abiraterone or Salvestrol ? I have type 2 diabetes and Atrial Fib if that makes a difference in how you respond.
Also who is available to guide me as to how much to use and when best to take it etc.
I also use 4.5 mg. of low dose naltrexone { LDN }
Answer:
Abiraterone is a very powerful drug used to treat advanced prostate cancer. It is currently licenced for use to treat mCRPC which is metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer. So unless your disease fits into that category you will not be able to receive Abiraterone.
Salvestrol Platinum can be used to treat prostate cancer even when it becomes hormone independant, and so Salvestrols work beyond Abiraterone. Here is an example of a case where this approach has been used:
Case #3. Prostate Cancer
A 74-year-old gentleman was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. Subsequently this gentleman spoke with his cousin, a university lecturer, who told him that one of his students was diagnosed with a terminal brain cancer and had recovered after taking Salvestrols. He decided to begin a course of Salvestrol supplementation taking two (350 point) Salvestrol Shield capsules per day. Six months after receiving his diagnosis his PSA level had dropped from 11 to below 1 ng/mL. The patient moved to another country which necessitated a change of doctors. At this point the patient switched Salvestrol products and began taking one (2,000 point) Salvestrol Platinum capsule three times per day after meals, to give a total supplemtation of 6000 points per day. Twelve months after receiving his diagnosis his PSA level had dropped to 0.2 ng/mL. The new doctor continued with the PSA monitoring and upon receiving a subsequent PSA test result the physician said that the PSA level received was as low as it could be and asked if the patient was sure that he had not had surgery. Given the physician’s surprise that such a result could be achieved the patient confessed to taking Salvestrols. The physician then stated that he had other patients he would like to start on Salvestrols. This patient continues to receive PSA test results at the 0.2 ng/ml level and has continues to take one (350 point) Salvestrol Shield capsule per day as a preventative measure, and has now embarked on a fitness program and change in diet.
First of all thanks for taking the time out of your very busy schedule to educate me. I have decided to begin Salvestrol Therapy ASAP. I will call Acquired Intelligence Inc. today to place my order. Are there enabling supplements that will work synergistically with Salvestrol Platinum ?
My plan is to use the Navvaro Clinic Urine Test to establish a baseline and then to retest after a period of SP use to measure progress. I will also have my PSA tested once in a while. Does this make sense to you. I am fortunate to be able to work closely with an MD who practices complimentary medicine.
Warmest regards,
Don C Waterloo Ontario Canada
Dear Don, here are the responses to your questions.
For maximum effect the salvestrol supplements are taken 3 times a day with meals. It is advised to take the capsules just after a meal for best absorption.
In USA/Canada Salvestrol Platinum contains 1000 points.
In UK/Europe Salvestrol Platinum contains 2000 points
Dosage:
USA/Canada: Take 2 capsules of salvestrol platinum 3 times daily
UK/Europe: Take 1 capsule of salvestrol platinum 3 times daily
It is wise to carry on with PSA monitoring whilst you are on Salvetrol therapy. However do not be surprised if the PSA initally increases in the first month before eventually going down. PSA is an indirect marker of the cancer and often increase initially with any treatment of prostate cancer.
Don asked the question "Are there enabling supplements that will work synergistically with Salvestrol Platinum ?"
The answer is yes, and these are
Biotin
Niacin
Magnesium
Biotin increases the expression levels of the beta salvestrol activase enzyme CYP1B1. Niacin and Magnesium are co-factors needed by the P450 reductase which enables the salvestrol activase to work efficiently.
Biotin is only needed in very small amounts typically 10 ug.
Niacin is available in multivitamin tablets, so a good multivitamin may provide all the co-factors needed.
Having said this I know of people who have recovered from cancer just by taking the salvestrol supplements without needing any other supplements.
I was diagnosed with high-grade (gleason 10) prostate cancer with mets to L5 vertabrae 3-1/2 years ago. I have been on Lupron and Casodex. I reached 0.5 nadir and it held steady for about 2-1/2 years. My PSA has been climbing for the past year...very slowly at about 0.1/month. Although the PSA value is still low, I understand that high-grade cancers don't produce much PSA.
I also see a very reputable naturopathic oncologist, Dan Rubin, where I receive I/V vitamin C plus a few other supplements via capsules.
My medical oncologist is recommending abiraterone as the next drug after the Lupron and Casodex stopped working.
I heard about Salvestrol about 6 months ago and took the product for about 4 months. I started with (5) 1000-point capsules/day, but my PSA continued to climb. Through emails with Acquired Intelligence, I was instructed to double the dosage to (10) 1000-point capsules/day. Had a PSA test one month later and the PSA still increased...up 0.1, just like before. I haven't added Biotin to my protocol, but the other supplements are covered by a multi-vitamin. I also see a very reputable naturapathic oncologist, Dan Rubin, where I receive I/V vitamin C plus a few other supplements via capsules.
I read recently on this blog that sometimes it could take up to a year for the Salvestrol to work completely...maybe I was over-optimistic about the effect of Salvestrol and probably too impatient after reading the Case Studies using Salvestrol.
Given my high grade of cancer, do you think Salvestrol will work for me and if so, when should I see a response (PSA?)?
Answer:
There seems to be 2 types of responders to salvestrol therapy, fast responders and slow responders. The fast responders typically see their tumours shrink to half their size within 1 months are are all clear by 3 months. The slow responders may not show signs of response until after several months and may need a year before real signs of improvements are seen.
The PSA levels can be misleading since the PSA is an indirect marker of prostate cancer. Basically it measures the cellular debris from the prostate cancer cells in the bloodstream. However, when undergoing therapy for prostate cancer the PSA will go up before it comes down. This is because the dead tumour cells debris enters the bloodstream as the tumour is dying. So the more prostate tumours dying the more cellular dbris enters the bloodstream so the more the PSA increases. Only after several months will the PSA then start to decline as less tumours are being destroyed.
The salvestrols should be effective at a dose of 2 capsules of Salvestrol Platinum (1000 point) capsules, 3 times daily, taken shortly after meals. For optimum absorption it is best to take these just after youve eaten. The dose can be increased to 4 capsules, 3 times daily, for maximum effect.
I am pleased to hear your medical oncologist is recommending abiraterone. Have a look at my discussions on the new prostate cancer infolink about the optimum dose of abiraterone by searching on "Abiraterone Dose". You could be the first person to be on Abiraterone and Salvestrols. This would be a very interesting approach since you would be attacking the cancer from 2 different angles both of which are synergistic.
Patients Kept Alive For Years on Zytiga
Prof Johann de Bono, who led the trials of Zytiga (Abiraterone) at The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I'm thrilled that this drug will now be routinely available for eligible patients on the NHS.
"Abiraterone acetate is one of only a handful of life-extending drugs for these patients and, importantly, it can also improve the quality of life.
"Some of my patients have been taking abiraterone for several years through clinical trials and are still pain free."
Zytiga Needs Prednisone to Offset Hypokalemia Side Effect
One of the abstracts from this years 2012 ASCO meeting in Chicago investigates the side effect profile for single agent Zytiga and for Zytiga plus prednisone. The key effect of the corticosteroid prednisone is to overcome the side effect of hypokalemia which results from single agent Zytiga use. Hypokalemia is low potassium levels in the plasma and may lead to potentially fatal heart arythmia.
Another abstract at this meeting suggests that a low dose of 5 mg daily of prednisone is able to off set this side effect.
Risk of mineralocorticoid excess syndrome with CYP17 inhibitor abiraterone in prostate cancer patients.
Abstract:
Background: CYP17 inhibitor abiraterone acetate has been used for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-refractory prostate cancer (CRPC). Hypertension, hypokalemia (low potassium) and edema are the major side effects associated with its use, and may be secondary to the excess of mineralocorticoids due to CYP17 inhibition. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published clinical trials to determine the effect of abiraterone on the development of these side effects.
Methods: Databases including Pubmed (July, 1966 to July, 2011), Web of Science, and abstracts presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meetings from 2008 to 2011 were searched to identify relevant studies. Eligible studies were prospective clinical trials of patients with prostate cancer receiving abiraterone acetate at the starting dose of 1,000 mg daily with available data on hypertension, hypokalemia and edema. Incidence and relative risk (RR) were calculated using a random-effects or fixed-effects model.
Results: A total of seven studies including 1,387 patients with CRPC were selected for analysis. The incidences of all-grade hypertension, hypokalemia, and edema were 13.3% (95% CI: 8.3 to 20.5%), 31.4 % (95% CI: 12.5-59.5%), and 23.4 % (95% CI: 15.6-33.5%) respectively. The incidences of high-grade (grade 3 and above) toxicity were low, with a rate of 3.6% (95% CI: 2.6-5.1%), 2.8 % (95% CI: 0.9 to 8.2%), and 2.1% (95%CI: 1.3-3.2%) for hypertension, hypokalemia, and edema respectively. The risk of hypertension and edema did not change with and without the addition of prednisone (p=0.48 and p=0.40, respectively); however, the risk of hypokalemia was significantly reduced with the addition of prednisone (p = 0.003). In comparison with prednisone alone, the addition of abiraterone did not increase the risk of hypertension (RR 1.22, 95% CI: 0.82 – 1.83, p=0.31), but significantly increased the risk of edema (RR 1.36, 95% CI: 1.10-1.69, p=0.004) and hypokalemia (RR 2.04, 95% CI: 1.42–2.92, p<0.001).
Conclusions: There were differential effects of abiraterone on the development of hypertension, hypokalemia, and edema in patients with advanced prostate cancer.
Another abstract at this meeting suggests that a low dose of 5 mg daily of prednisone is able to off set this side effect.
Risk of mineralocorticoid excess syndrome with CYP17 inhibitor abiraterone in prostate cancer patients.
Abstract:
Background: CYP17 inhibitor abiraterone acetate has been used for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-refractory prostate cancer (CRPC). Hypertension, hypokalemia (low potassium) and edema are the major side effects associated with its use, and may be secondary to the excess of mineralocorticoids due to CYP17 inhibition. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published clinical trials to determine the effect of abiraterone on the development of these side effects.
Methods: Databases including Pubmed (July, 1966 to July, 2011), Web of Science, and abstracts presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meetings from 2008 to 2011 were searched to identify relevant studies. Eligible studies were prospective clinical trials of patients with prostate cancer receiving abiraterone acetate at the starting dose of 1,000 mg daily with available data on hypertension, hypokalemia and edema. Incidence and relative risk (RR) were calculated using a random-effects or fixed-effects model.
Results: A total of seven studies including 1,387 patients with CRPC were selected for analysis. The incidences of all-grade hypertension, hypokalemia, and edema were 13.3% (95% CI: 8.3 to 20.5%), 31.4 % (95% CI: 12.5-59.5%), and 23.4 % (95% CI: 15.6-33.5%) respectively. The incidences of high-grade (grade 3 and above) toxicity were low, with a rate of 3.6% (95% CI: 2.6-5.1%), 2.8 % (95% CI: 0.9 to 8.2%), and 2.1% (95%CI: 1.3-3.2%) for hypertension, hypokalemia, and edema respectively. The risk of hypertension and edema did not change with and without the addition of prednisone (p=0.48 and p=0.40, respectively); however, the risk of hypokalemia was significantly reduced with the addition of prednisone (p = 0.003). In comparison with prednisone alone, the addition of abiraterone did not increase the risk of hypertension (RR 1.22, 95% CI: 0.82 – 1.83, p=0.31), but significantly increased the risk of edema (RR 1.36, 95% CI: 1.10-1.69, p=0.004) and hypokalemia (RR 2.04, 95% CI: 1.42–2.92, p<0.001).
Conclusions: There were differential effects of abiraterone on the development of hypertension, hypokalemia, and edema in patients with advanced prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer Responds to Salvestrols
All stages of prostate cancer from early stage disease to advanced metastatic prostate cancer respond well to salvestrols. This is probably due to the very high expression of the salvestrol activating enzyme CYP1B1 in prostate cancer cells. These cells express high levels of CYP1B1 which activates the salvestrols to their anticancer metabolites and destroy the cancer cells.
Salvestrols work well against Docetaxel and Cabazitaxel resistant prostate cancer.
One of the resistance mechanisms to taxane based drugs such as Jevtana (Cabazitaxel) and Docetaxel is mediated by the enzyme CYP1B1 which has been shown to metabolize these drugs to inactive metabolites. The higher the levels of CYP1B1 then the higher the resistance will be to taxane drugs. However this is the very enzyme that activates the salvestrols so the more resistant cancers will become the most sensitive to salvestrol therapy. In the laboratory salvestrols effectively destroyed chemo resistant prostate cancer cells.
In practise the effects of salvestrols in prostate cancer patients can be amazing. One patient with a PSA of over 5000 saw this drop to less than 100 within a month of taking salvestrols.
Heres some examples of responses to salvestrols in prostate cancer patients:
After a period of three months, a PSA test was conducted and the result was within normal limits and he was pronounced ‘all clear’. Upon receiving this news he reduced the dose of salvestrols by taking one Salvestrol Shield (350 point) capsule per day as a preventative measure. He continues to be active, physically and mentally. He has had four further PSA tests at three-month intervals and they have all shown results within normal limits.
Salvestrols work well against Docetaxel and Cabazitaxel resistant prostate cancer.
One of the resistance mechanisms to taxane based drugs such as Jevtana (Cabazitaxel) and Docetaxel is mediated by the enzyme CYP1B1 which has been shown to metabolize these drugs to inactive metabolites. The higher the levels of CYP1B1 then the higher the resistance will be to taxane drugs. However this is the very enzyme that activates the salvestrols so the more resistant cancers will become the most sensitive to salvestrol therapy. In the laboratory salvestrols effectively destroyed chemo resistant prostate cancer cells.
In practise the effects of salvestrols in prostate cancer patients can be amazing. One patient with a PSA of over 5000 saw this drop to less than 100 within a month of taking salvestrols.
Heres some examples of responses to salvestrols in prostate cancer patients:
Case #1.
A 72-year-old male was given a diagnosis of prostate cancer as part of routine monitoring. This gentleman has a long-held belief that pharmaceutical approaches to disease treatment should only be considered as a last resort and preferred to look towards nutrition and nutritional supplements to restore his health.
For this approach he took Salvestrol supplementation at a dosage of 1 Salvestrol Platinum (1000 point ) capsule daily combined with a variety of other nutritional supplements.
After a period of three months, a PSA test was conducted and the result was within normal limits and he was pronounced ‘all clear’. Upon receiving this news he reduced the dose of salvestrols by taking one Salvestrol Shield (350 point) capsule per day as a preventative measure. He continues to be active, physically and mentally. He has had four further PSA tests at three-month intervals and they have all shown results within normal limits.
Case #2.
A 79-year-old male was diagnosed with prostate cancer. A digital rectal examination indicated the presence of a tumour on the left side of the prostate. Prostate cancer was diagnosed and a biopsy scheduled for confirmation. A Gleason Score of 6 (3+3) was assigned to the biopsy results.
Upon receipt of the confirmed diagnosis this gentleman began taking Salvestrols on a daily basis. This comprised three Salvestrol Platinum (2,000 point) capsules per day, taken after meals (6,000 points per day). These were taken in concert with vitamins and minerals that included known salvestrol co-factors such as biotin (625 mcg), niacin (1,000 mg), magnesium (600 mg), ascorbic acid (3,900 mg), and iron fumerate (20 mg). No dietary changes were made and no change in exercise level was made. In two months of salvestrol supplementation the PSA test result indicated a level lower than that reported prior to his diagnosis.
A period of three months elapsed between receipt of his biopsy results and a consultation with his urologist. The urologist referred the gentleman to the British Columbia Cancer Agency. During the following month the PSA test results indicated levels that led his oncologist to suggest no further treatment as the cancer was said to be in remission.
Upon receipt of this news the supplementation was reduced to one Salvestrol Platinum (2,000 point) capsule per day for cancer prevention.
Case #3.
A 74-year-old gentleman was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. Subsequently this man spoke
with his cousin, a university lecturer, who told him that one of his students was diagnosed with a terminal brain cancer and had recovered after taking Salvestrols. He decided to begin a course of salvestrol supplementation taking two (350 point) Salvestrol Shield capsules per day. Six months after receiving his diagnosis his PSA level had dropped from 11 to below 1 ng/mL. At this point the patient switched salvestrol products and began taking one (2,000 point) Salvestrol Platinum capsule three times per day after meals, to give a total supplemtation of 6000 points per day. Twelve months after receiving his diagnosis his PSA level had dropped to 0.2 ng/mL. A new doctor continued with the PSA monitoring and upon receiving a subsequent PSA test result the physician said that the PSA level received was as low as it could be and asked if the patient was sure that he had not had surgery. Given the physician’s surprise that such a result could be achieved the patient confessed to taking salvestrols. The physician then stated that he must be at the cutting edge of research and he had other patients he would like to start on salvestrols. This patient continues to receive PSA test results at the 0.2 ng/ml level and has continues to take one (350 point) Salvestrol Shield capsule per day as a preventative measure, and has now embarked on a fitness program and change in diet.
Zytiga Outperforms MDV3100
This years ASCO abstracts from the meeting in Chicago show a number of new results on the clinical use of Abiraterone (Zytiga).
This abstract shows that Zytiga can work beyond MDV3100 and continues to show activity in MDV3100 relapsed patients.
Abiraterone in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer progressing after docetaxel and MDV3100.
Abstract:
Background: Chemotherapy with docetaxel is the standard first-line treatment in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). In patients progressing after docetaxel, both abiraterone and MDV3100 have yielded improved survival for patients with mCRPC. The efficacy of abiraterone in patients pre-treated with MDV 3100 is unknown.
Methods: We investigated abiraterone-prednisone in 24 patients with cancer progression after docetaxel followed by MDV3100. All patients received abiraterone 1000 mg/day plus prednisone 10mg/day. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response, symptom response, and time to progression were assessed.
Results: Patient characteristics were as follows: median age: 74 years (53-84), median PSA: 108 ng/mL (2-2541), metastatic sites: bone: all 24 patients, liver/lung: 6 patients (25%), and lymph nodes : 9 patients (38%). Five patients (21%) had a PSA decrease on abiraterone-prednisone. Three patients (13%) achieved a PSA response, defined as a decrease of >50% in PSA, confirmed after≥ 4 weeks. The duration of PSA response was 2, 3 and 4.5 months. Six patients (29%) had a symptomatic response on the pain score and analgesic consumption was decreased. Treatment was well tolerated. Abiraterone-prednisone was discontinued in one patient due to edema and hypokaliemia.
Conclusions: This study shows preliminary evidence that abiraterone-prednisone yields activity in patients with mCRPC pretreated with docetaxel and MDV3100.
This abstract shows that Zytiga can work beyond MDV3100 and continues to show activity in MDV3100 relapsed patients.
Abiraterone in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer progressing after docetaxel and MDV3100.
Abstract:
Background: Chemotherapy with docetaxel is the standard first-line treatment in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). In patients progressing after docetaxel, both abiraterone and MDV3100 have yielded improved survival for patients with mCRPC. The efficacy of abiraterone in patients pre-treated with MDV 3100 is unknown.
Methods: We investigated abiraterone-prednisone in 24 patients with cancer progression after docetaxel followed by MDV3100. All patients received abiraterone 1000 mg/day plus prednisone 10mg/day. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response, symptom response, and time to progression were assessed.
Results: Patient characteristics were as follows: median age: 74 years (53-84), median PSA: 108 ng/mL (2-2541), metastatic sites: bone: all 24 patients, liver/lung: 6 patients (25%), and lymph nodes : 9 patients (38%). Five patients (21%) had a PSA decrease on abiraterone-prednisone. Three patients (13%) achieved a PSA response, defined as a decrease of >50% in PSA, confirmed after≥ 4 weeks. The duration of PSA response was 2, 3 and 4.5 months. Six patients (29%) had a symptomatic response on the pain score and analgesic consumption was decreased. Treatment was well tolerated. Abiraterone-prednisone was discontinued in one patient due to edema and hypokaliemia.
Conclusions: This study shows preliminary evidence that abiraterone-prednisone yields activity in patients with mCRPC pretreated with docetaxel and MDV3100.
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Zytiga Cures 10% of Early Stage Prostate Cancers
In results of a clinical trial announced in abstracts of the 2012 ASCO conference show that 6 month neoadjuvant treatment with Zytiga results in complete dissapearance of prostate cancer in 10% of patients with high risk disease. In one third of patients there was significant tumour regression indicating that Zytiga is an exciting agent for neoadjuvant therapy of prostate cancer which may circumvent the need for surgery in some cases.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)