In yesterday's thread on "Jevtana and Prednisone", no mention was made of the potential effect of prednisone on the cancer. In fact, Eric wrote that: "prednisone in itself does nothing to stop or slow the cancer".
In fact, there may be add-on value in the combined treatments where prednisone is included for other reasons.
From the bad old days:
1] 1998 - Effect of predisone on PSA in CRPC. "10 mg of prednisone orally two times a day."
"The mean and median PSA decline after initiating prednisone was 33%"
"Ten patients (34%) had a PSA decline of more than 50% and 4 patients (14%) had PSA declines of more than 75%."
2] 2001 - Flutamide versus prednisone in CRPC.
"In symptomatic HRPC, treatment with prednisone or flutamide leads to similar rates of {time to progression} and overall survival and no difference in subjective or biochemical response. The QL results favor the use of low-cost prednisone in patients with HRPC."
When I took my chemo trial twelve years ago part of the regime was 30 mg of Prednisone each day for six months (10 mg and 20 mg twice a day). I asked Dr. Amato why. His response was simple, "My research show that Prednisone has prostate cancer killing properties."
I doubt that many men are happy about taking a drug that is an immunosuppresant, but there appears to be an independent benefit when used against PCa.
By independent, I mean that prednisone alone might have some benefit.
I have written many posts about the importance of controlling inflammation. PCa is certainly an inflammatory disease. Eliminate the inflammation & the PSA doubling time might increase. Prednisone is used to treat certain inflammatory diseases, although one doesn't need prednisone to address inflammation.
It does have a downside. Blood glucose goes up. I think it very important with PCa to restore insulin sensitivity, & this would be difficult to do while taking prednisone. There are other side effects too.
While using a treatment drug where prednisone is part of the treatment, one can take solace in the fact that prednisone is adding value (IMO).
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