The Bay Area Tumor Institute is the only community organization in the Bay Area selected and approved by the National Cancer Institute to participate in the first three major studies for the prevention of prostate cancer and breast cancer. Participants in these double-blind studies are given agents that may prevent the onset of breast or prostate cancer. The studies have a duration of 5-10 years and involve careful participant selection, monitoring, support, and follow-up.

PROSTATE CANCER PREVENTION TRIALS

SELECT: Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (closed to new participants)

SELECT is a research study to see if one or both of these dietary supplements prevent prostate cancer in men. It is funded by the National Cancer Institute and 32,000 men will participate in SELECT. Of more than 400 sites in the United States, the Bay Area Tumor Institute is the only approved participant in the East Bay.

Our bodies need selenium, a nonmetallic trace element that we get from water and food, and recent studies suggest that selenium and vitamin E might prevent prostate cancer. No one knows if adding these elements to our diets will really help prevent cancer, but scientists do not recommend taking these supplements outside of this controlled experiment.

We do know that adding or subtracting foods and supplements from our diets based on incidental observation is seldom the solution to complex problems. The only way to test whether selenium and vitamin E are useful is to conduct a carefully controlled research study.

Eligibility: Black men must be age 50 or older to participate, and men of other races and ethnicities must be 55 or older. The age eligibility is lower for black men because they get the disease at an earlier age. In addition, black men in the United States have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world.

Participants must have no prior history of prostate cancer and men who join SELECT also must not have had any other cancer, except non-melanoma skin cancer, in the last five years. They must be in generally good health.

Men will visit the nearby study site in Oakland twice a year for evaluations (PSA and a complete physical exam, including prostate examination), receive a six month supply of capsules (and free multivitamins if they wish), and receive $50 per visit for time and travel expenses.

For information call:
Bay Are Tumor Institute
[510] 465-8573
or send an email to jheath@bati.org

BREAST CANCER PREVENTION TRIALS

The STAR Breast Cancer Prevention and Risk Reduction Trial (closed to new participants)

For long term follow-up, please call [510] 465-8573 for information on sites that are still recruiting.