Unorthodox Therapies for Indigo
Some of the unorthodox treatments for Azure, such as aspirin, metformin, and statins, may be worthy of consideration for Indigo. Treatment with ancillary agents such as these should generally be considered as additions rather than substitutions to an overall protocol that includes standard anticancer therapies.
Observation for Elderly Men with Low-Indigo or Basic-Indigo
Normally, observation alone is reserved for men with PSA doubling times over 12 months. However, delaying therapy in older men with shorter doubling times can also be considered because the testosterone inactivating pharmaceuticals (TIP) are very powerful and capable salvaging progressive disease and putting it in remission for years. Even milder form of TIP, using Casodex alone, can be considered. Casodex by itself has fewer side effects than Lupron-based TIP therapy.
Taxotere for Basic-Indigo
A large, randomized clinical trial called STAMPEDE confirmed Taxotere improves survival for High-Indigo. There is also some limited evidence that Taxotere may improve cure rates for Basic-Indigo. In one prospective study of 60 patients, 25 percent of the men who began Taxotere, while the PSA was still less than 3.0, appear to have been cured using 4 cycles of Taxotere combined with 9 months of TIP. Patients often ask me what I mean by “cure.” After surgery, cure means that the PSA remains undetectable indefinitely in men whose testosterone levels have recovered back to normal levels. After radiation, cure means a recovered testosterone and PSA levels that remain stable under 1.0.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mark Scholz, MD is the Executive Director of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute. He is also the Medical Director of Prostate Oncology Specialists Inc. He received his medical degree from Creighton University in Omaha, NE. Dr. Scholz completed his Internal Medicine internship and Medical Oncology fellowship at University of Southern California Medical Center. He is co-author of Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers. He has authored over 20 scientific publications related to the treatment of prostate cancer.