Soy may Stop Prostate Cancer Spread
Posted by on November 15, 2010 - 12:45pm

As an Institute that promotes sex and gender research, here is another blog of particular interest to the male side of the equation!

Experimental soy-based drug shows benefits in men with localized prostate cancer

CHICAGO --- Northwestern Medicine researchers at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University have found that a new, nontoxic drug made from a chemical in soy could prevent the movement of cancer cells from the prostate to the rest of the body.

Genistein, a natural chemical found in soy, is being used in the lab of Raymond Bergan, M.D., the director of experimental therapeutics at the Lurie Cancer Center, to inhibit prostate cancer cells from becoming metastatic and spreading to other parts of the body. So far the cancer therapy drug has worked in preclinical animal studies and now shows benefits in humans with prostate cancer.

A recent phase II randomized study of 38 men with localized prostate cancer found that genistein, when given once a day as a pill, one month prior to surgery, had beneficial effects on prostate cancer cells.

Researchers examined the cancer cells from the subjects’ prostates after surgery and found that genistein increased the expression of genes that suppress the invasion of cancer cells and decreased the expression of genes that enhance invasion.

“The first step is to see if the drug has the effect that you want on the cells and the prostate, and the answer is ‘yes, it does,’” said Bergan, a professor of hematology and oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

The next step is to conduct another phase II study to see if the drug can stop the cancer cells from moving out of the prostate and into the rest of the body, Bergan said. If confirmed, Bergan said this could be the first therapy for any cancer that is non-toxic and targets and inhibits cancer cell movement.

“All therapies designed to stop cancer cell movement that have been tested to date in humans have basically failed have because they have been ineffective or toxic,” Bergan said. “If this drug can effectively stop prostate cancer from moving in the body, theoretically, a similar therapy could have the same effect on the cells of other cancers.”

Written by Erin White

More on Male Menopause
Posted by on September 10, 2010 - 10:54am

Our recent blog on male menopause has generated a number of questions, especially on the side effects of hormone treatments.   I went back to Dr. Robert Brannigan, a Northwestern University urologist,  who was quoted in our previous blog on the topic for guidance and he shared an article that was jointly prepared by the Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology entitled, "Androgen deficiency in the aging male" (Fertility and Sterility, Vol. 90, Suppl 3, November 2008).   It should be noted that although there are recommendations (see below) for androgen replacement therapy for older men, the data to support treatment protocols are based on a limited number of clinical trials. Furthermore, the long term health risks and benefits of androgen therapy in the older man are not well defined so it is important that anyone undergoing androgen therapy be carefully monitored.

All commercial androgen formulation currently available in the US are preparations of testosterone, an androgen that can be converted to estradiol.  The potential risks of androgen therapy in older men include fluid retention, gynecomastia, excessively elevated red blood cell mass, exacerbation of sleep apnea,  benign or malignant prostate disease, and an increase in risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The Summary and Recommendations of the report state:

  • Androgen deficiency in the aging male may be associated with changes in mood, body composition, stamina, energy, and decreased sexual and cognitive function as well as loss of bone mineral density.   Such signs and symptoms may be relieved or eliminated with testosterone replacement therapy.
  • Serum testosterone should be evaluated only in men with signs or symptoms of androgen deficiency.
  • Androgen therapy should be considered for men who have symptoms of androgen deficiency and a low serum total testosterone concentration (<200 ng/dL).
  • Free or bioavailable testosterone levels or the free testosterone index should be evaluated in men who have symptoms of androgen deficiency and a borderline total serum testosterone concentration between 200 ng/dL and 400 ng/dL.
  • During androgen therapy, serum testosterone, PSA (prostate specific antigen), and hematocrit (level of red blood cells) should be monitored, and periodic digital rectal exam is recommended.
  • Limited data regarding the benefits and risks of testosterone replacement therapy do not permit specific treatment recommendations at this time and further research studies are needed to better define the effects of androgen replacement therapy in aging men.

Men considering androgen replacement therapy may want to consider participation in a clinical trial so that we can increase our knowledge in this area.

Male Menopause
Posted by on August 23, 2010 - 9:15am

No, you did not open the wrong page.   Yes, this blog is posted by the Institute for Women's Health Research at Northwestern. As an advocate for better  sex and gender based research, we support all avenues that increase our knowledge about sex differences and that includes  a better understanding of  hormone changes in women AND MEN.

Furthermore, women are generally the source of health information for their families and that includes their male partners! So, women and men, read on!

Low testosterone levels to blame for low libido, fatigue and weight gain

While most frequently associated with women’s health, age-related hormone changes, often dubbed menopause, can occur in men as well, causing symptoms of fatigue, mood swings, decreased desire for sex, hair loss, lack of concentration and weight gain. Experts estimate that more than 5 million men are affected, yet worry the number may be considerably higher since symptoms are frequently ignored.  Male hypogonadism, as it’s referred to in the medical community, occurs when the testicles do not produce enough testosterone, the hormone that plays a key role in masculine growth and development. When hormone levels drop, men can experience significant mental and physical changes.

“This is a highly prevalent disorder,” said Robert Brannigan, MD, urologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “Unfortunately, we estimate that 95 percent of cases are undiagnosed and therefore untreated. When ignored, symptoms can seriously disrupt one’s quality of life.”

Brannigan explains hormone variations are a normal aspect of getting older. “In females, ovulation comes to an end and hormone production declines in a relatively quick period of time, whereas men experience hormone shifts more slowly, with testosterone levels dropping around one percent each year beginning in a man’s late thirties,” adds Brannigan. He goes on to explain that by age seventy, the reduction in a male’s testosterone level could be as high as fifty percent or more compared to baseline levels, but notes that aging men are not the only ones at risk. A number of genetic causes can impact males from birth and are usually diagnosed with failure to progress normally through puberty during the teenage years.

Treatment options for male hypogonadism include hormone replacement therapy (HRT) via absorbable pellet implants, topical gels, patches, and injections. Through HRT, doctors can restore sexual function and muscle strength. In addition, men often experience an increase in energy and an improved overall sense of well-being.

“We are seeing more men affected by male hypogonadism than we saw ten years ago,” said Brannigan. “However, many men continue to suffer in silence due to a lack of awareness surrounding the disorder. Because male hypogonadism can significantly impact the quality of one’s life, it’s important that men pay attention to their body and openly discuss symptoms with their physician in order to prevent overlooking the cause and avoid missing an opportunity for appropriate therapy.”

Although research to determine the exact association continues, doctors also warn that male hypogonadism has been linked to chronic medical conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It’s also closely associated with infertility.

“This disorder is not something that should be ignored,” said Brannigan, who is working to educate patients and physicians about the symptoms and treatments available in order to ensure therapies are made available to men in need.

Male hypogonadism is most commonly diagnosed through a simple blood test. Brannigan notes hormone replacement therapy is not appropriate for all patients especially those with history of prostate and breast cancer and men trying to conceive. He suggests consulting your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms.