Vitamins and Minerals Showed Little Benefit on Liver Cancer Death Rates

Taking vitamins and minerals did not reduce liver cancer death rates in a study conducted by the National Cancer Institute and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Liver cancer is a common cancer with a high death rate. New prevention strategies are needed to reduce the number of deaths from the disease.

Chen-Xu Qu, M.D., and colleagues conducted a randomized clinical trial that examined whether four vitamin-mineral supplement combinations could effect the liver cancer death rate in a Chinese population that was deficient in many vitamins and minerals. Study participants took two or four of the following combinations: retinol and zinc; riboflavin and niacin; ascorbic acid and molybdenum; beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, and selenium; or placebo pills.

After 5.25 years, none of the vitamin-mineral combinations caused a statistically significant reduction in liver cancer deaths overall. However, some combinations reduced risk in subgroups defined by age, sex, and alcohol consumption. These subgroup analyses need to be interpreted with caution, the authors write.

Contact: National Cancer Institute press office, ncipressofficers@mail.nih.gov, (301) 496-6641

Prior Testicular Cancer Diagnosis Has Little Impact on Second Cancer Survival

Testicular cancer survivors diagnosed with a second cancer had mortality rates similar to men diagnosed with a first cancer, except among some diagnosed with testicular cancer between 1973 and 1979.

Most testicular cancer patients are cured, but survivors are at a higher risk for second cancers later in life. There is little data on mortality rates of testicular cancer survivors with a second cancer.

Catherine Schairer, Ph.D., of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md., and colleagues co
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Contact: Liz Savage
jncimedia@oxfordjournals.org
301-841-1287
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
7-Aug-2007