PCa: Microbiome, Sexer-cise, HIFU
April Prostate Cores comes early
By Howard Wolinsky
What’s up in Prostate Cores?
—Your gut microbes make up a world of their own known as the microbiome. In the journal Cancer Science, Japanese researchers found in a study of 96 men with prostate cancer and 56 cancer-free that men in the “high-risk group” [Grade Group 2/Gleason 3+4 and above] had an abundance of certain microbes compared to the low-risk group [Grade Group 1].
The researchers concluded: “The gut microbiota profile could be a novel useful marker for the detection of high-risk PCa and could contribute to the carcinogenesis of PCa.”
—Also, researchers at University of California, San Diego are validating the gut microbiome--the community of germs in our gut that help keep us going as a biomarker for prostate cancer aimed at men on Active Surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer.
Participants get a free diet assessment/score, a microbiome report, and $25 gift card. No decode rings that I know of.
Information on the study is available at
https://oncobiomix.com and sign up here:
https://oncobiomix.studyenrollment.com/ to see if you’re eligible.
Men aged 40-80 being screened for prostate cancer or on active surveillance (Grade Group 1 Prostate Cancer) are eligible. Subjects are not eligible for participation if they have taken antibiotics within the last 3 months or have undergone prostate cancer treatment.
The study is evaluating a test called PRIMUS (Prostate Cancer Risk Insight through Microbiome Understanding) that is being optimized and researched to assess its potential in predicting prostate cancer risk and progression.
—On a personal gut microbiomne note, I used microbiome information from a defunct Israeli companyto reverse my newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Read all about it: https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/apatientsjourney/70477 Sadly, I fell off the wagon, but all of this having me reconsider.
Prostate cancer cells in the final stage of cell division: ©PRB ARTS - stock.adobe.com
—Exercise is a bestie for sexaual function for men treated for prostate cancer, researchers from down under reported in the JAMA Network Open. “The study suggests that exercise would be an effective intervention for men with prostate cancer who express concern about sexual dysfunction, and that exercise medicine should be considered a key part of their treatment,” said Daniel Galvão, PhD. Researchers studied six months of supervised resistance and aerobics to improve erectile function compared to routine care in men with prostate cancer, supporting the use of exercise as a potential rehabilitation measure in these patients. Exercise had a significant impact. It helped the exercisers waistlines as well.
(Daniel Galvão, PhD)
—Patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer and high PSAs before undergoing HIFU therapy have an increased risk of recurrence and treatment failure, University of California, San Francisco researchers reported at the recent ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.
Men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer and high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels before high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment faced a greater risk of recurrence and treatment failure, according to research presented at the 2025 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.
Kevin Shee, MD, and colleagues reported in a poster session that they found in a study of 108 patients that underwent HIFU, that in-field and overall recurrence on 1-year biopsy was 41% and 54%, respectively.
“Higher pre-HIFU PSA was associated with treatment failure and overall recurrence on biopsy, and GG3 [or higher] was associated with in-field and overall recurrence on biopsy,” the researchers said.
Radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy, are effective options, for these men, but are linked with significant adverse effects. For patients with favorable-risk disease, active surveillance may be an option, but carries the risk of cancer progression over time.
—The story of my personal journey appears in the spring edition of Cancer Health Magazine. Why not give it a spin: https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/deciding-not-treat-cancer Early reviews are good. Please comment on the story and send me some love.
—ASPI session: Sorting out biomarkers: A Guide for patients on Active Surveillance.” PSAs, MRIs and biopsies each tell part of the story on prostate cancer. But increasingly, biomarkers are playing a role in making decisions on Active Surveillance vs. treatment for men with lower-risk prostate cancer. The program features Jonathan Tward, MD, PhD, an international authority on biomarkers.
The webinar will be held at noon to 1:30 p.m. Eastern on Saturday March 29, 2025.To register, go to: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/wsESZAXeR8Shp7FU60FHvg
Please send questions in advance to: contactus@aspatients.org
