Launched by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and a network of researchers known as the Southwest Oncology Group, the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) will determine if these two dietary supplements can protect against prostate cancer, the second most common form of cancer in men.

SELECT is the first study to look specifically at the effects of vitamin E and selenium, both separately and together, in preventing prostate cancer. The study, involving 400 sites in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada, will include a total of 32,400 men and will take up to 12 years to complete. Study investigators hope to recruit all study participants during the first five years of the trial, so that each man can be followed for at least seven years.

"This is an extremely important study," said Electra Paskett, Ph.D., program director of Cancer Control Research at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University. "Previous research with vitamin E and selenium - in studies focused on other types of cancer - suggested that these nutrients might prevent prostate cancer. SELECT is focused on prostate cancer and, when the study is finished, we will know for sure whether these supplements can prevent the disease," she said.

"It is crucial that men of all races and ethnic backgrounds participate in SELECT," said Paskett. "And since African-American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world, we especially encourage them to consider joining this trial."

The disease also strikes black men at a younger age, so they will be eligible to enroll in the SELECT study at age 50, versus age 55 for other racial and ethnic groups. There is no upper age limit for participati
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Contact: Jonnie Rohrer, Mark Wright or Bob Conn
jrohrer@wfubmc.edu
336-716-4587
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
23-Jul-2001