What happened to PC-SPES?

Readers may remember that in May 2000 we announced the success of the herbal supplement PC-SPES in lowering the PSA of patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer.  At that time there were known to be some 3000 men taking the product.  The word was rapidly spreading about its effectiveness.

Last February the California Department of Health Services warned consumers to stop using PC SPES because it had been found to contain undeclared prescription drug ingredients, whereupon BotanicLab, recalled supplies of PC-SPES.

Further research revealed the contaminents to be diethylstilbestrol (DES), which is a synthetic oestrogen; indomethacin, a potent antiinflammatory drug; and warfarin, a blood thinner.

These findings verified what many had long suspected - that this supplement was effective not because it contained active herbal extracts, but because it contained a form of the female hormone, oestrogen.

At first BotanicLab said that they would continue to market PC-SPES as soon as they had tracked down the source of the contaminants.  Unfortunately, the economic realities caught up with the company which went out of business last June.

The good news, if any can be found in this sorry affair, is that attention has been refocused towards the value of diethylstilbestrol (DES) as a hormone treatment for prostate cancer.