Clinical Trials Update: Sept. 27, 2004

September 27, 2004 09:03:01 AM PDT , HealthDay

(HealthDayNews) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of CenterWatch:

Bone Metastases

A research study to determine if Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) reduces the pain of metastatic bone tumors in patients who have not received adequate pain relief from conventional therapies. Volunteers who have one or two metastatic bone tumor(s) causing pain and whose pain persists when on pain medication may be able to participate. Research site located in Milwaukee, Wisc.

More Information

Please see http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/studies/cat348.html.

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Erectile Dysfunction

A research study for patients diagnosed with erectile dysfunction (ED) that has been attributed to another medical condition. Volunteers 18 or older who have been unable to have successful sexual intercourse for six months prior to study entry without specific ED therapy like Viagra, Muse, or others may be eligible. Research site located in New York, NY.

More Information

Please see http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/studies/cat371.html.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis

A research study of an investigational plant extract medication for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Volunteers between 18 and 75 who have been diagnosed with RA for at least six months and have never received treatment with a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) OR have experienced treatment failure with a DMARD other than Sulfazalazine may be eligible. Research site located in Duncansville, Penn.

More Information

Please see http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/studies/cat132.html.

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Herbal Supplement Might Prevent Prostate Cancer

September 24, 2004 02:03:17 PM PDT , HealthDay

FRIDAY, Sept 24 (HealthDayNews) -- The first clinical trial of the herbal supplement Zyflamend in patients with a precursor to prostate cancer is being conducted by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City.

Zyflamend, which is commonly used as an anti-inflammatory, may prove effective in preventing prostate cancer. Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) is a clinical precursor to prostrate cancer. Without intervention, men with PIN have a 50 percent to 70 percent risk of developing prostate cancer, the researchers said.

"Zyflamend has shown an ability, in vitro, to reduce prostate cancer cell proliferation by as much as 78 percent and to induce cancer cell death or apoptosis," principal investigator Dr. Aaron E. Katz, an associate professor of urology and director of the Center of Holistic Urology at Columbia, said in a prepared statement.

"These results are exceptionally promising and have led us to initiate this clinical trial," Katz said.

The Phase I study will evaluate the safety and tolerability of Zyflamend in up to 48 men, aged 40 to 75, with PIN. The men will receive the herbal supplement three times a day for 18 months, according to the researchers.

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about prostate cancer prevention.