PC-SPES
PC-SPES is a dietary supplement composed of a blend of eight herbs, traditionally used in Chinese medicine, marketed primarily for prostate health and as a complementary treatment for prostate cancer. The name "PC-SPES" combines the initials for "prostate cancer" with the Latin word for "hope." The formulation includes ingredients such as Baikal skullcap, licorice, reishi mushroom, and saw palmetto, among others. In the late 1990s, PC-SPES showed potential in laboratory studies for limiting the growth of prostate cancer cells, prompting its availability in the United States without the stringent oversight of the FDA typical for pharmaceuticals.
However, concerns arose when testing revealed that some batches contained prescription medications like warfarin and diethylstilbestrol, leading to its removal from the market. The mechanism of action for PC-SPES is believed to involve plant estrogens that may interfere with testosterone's role in tumor growth. Following its discontinuation, similar herbal supplements emerged, such as PC-HOPE and PC-CARE, although scientific validation of their effectiveness remains lacking. Users have reported a range of side effects, including hormonal changes and gastrointestinal issues, underscoring the importance of cautious use and consultation with healthcare professionals when considering alternative therapies for prostate cancer.
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PC-SPES
ALSO KNOWN AS: PC-CARE, Ponicidin
DEFINITION: PC-SPES is a mixture of eight herbs marketed as a dietary supplement for prostate health and as a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for prostate cancer. It should not be confused with SPES, a different product.
Cancers treated or prevented:Prostate cancer
Delivery routes: Oral by capsule
How this substance works: PC-SPES (a name derived from the initials for “prostate cancer” and the Latin word for “hope,” spes) is a dietary supplement alleged to support prostate health and limit the growth of prostate cancer. The ingredients include eight herbs, most of which are used in traditional Chinese medicine: Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis), licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L. or Glycyrrhiza uralensis), reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), isatis (Isatis indigotica), ginseng (Panax ginseng or Panax pseudoginseng var. notoginseng), chrysanthemum flowers (Dendranthema morifolium), Dong ling cao (Isodon rubescens), and saw palmetto (Serenoa repens). In the 1990s, PC-SPES showed promise both in preventing cell damage and in limiting tumor growth in cases of prostate cancer.
Between 1997 and 2002, PC-SPES was marketed in the United States as a dietary supplement. It did not need to meet the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards for drug safety and efficacy and did not require a prescription. In early studies in which cancer cells from rats were mixed with PC-SPES, the mixture limited the growth of the tumor cells. When testing revealed, however, that some forms of PC-SPES illegally contained warfarin (a blood thinner), diethylstilbestrol (DES, a hormonal therapy for prostate cancer), and indomethacin (an anti-inflammatory), PC-SPES was taken off the market and no longer manufactured or available in the United States.
How PC-SPES may work without the prescription drugs is unknown. The herbs contain plant estrogens (phytoestrogens) that may be effective in limiting the action of testosterone, the male hormone that contributes to tumor growth. Patients respond to PC-SPES similarly to those responding to estrogen therapy using DES. However, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) cut funding for studies on PC-SPES.
Following the removal of PC-SPES from the US supplement market, herbal formulations similar to PC-SPES, most notably PC-HOPE, PC-PLUS, and PC-CARE, were being produced and sold in the United States as dietary supplements, thus beyond the purview of the FDA. According to the American Cancer Society, preliminary studies of those newer formulations found that they may be effective against prostate tumors and improve quality of life. However, no scientific studies have been performed that confirm their abilities to prevent or treat cancer.
Side effects: Users of PC-SPES have noted side effects including breast swelling and tenderness, nausea and diarrhea, loss of libido, fatigue, and, less frequently, blood clots in the legs and heart problems. PC-SPES may also have interactions with drugs, including anticancer drugs.
Bibliography
Liu, Shwu-Huey, Yung-Chi Cheng, and Muhammad W. Saif. "Controlling Chemotherapy-Related Side Effects with Chinese Medicine." Supportive Cancer Care with Chinese Medicine, Ed. William C. S. Cho, Dordrecht: Springer, 2010, pp. 141–68.
Marks, Leonard S et al. “PC-SPES: Herbal Formulation for Prostate Cancer.” Urology, vol. 60.3, 2002, pp. 369-75, discussion pp. 376-7, doi:10.1016/s0090-4295(02)01913-1.
“PC-SPES - Complementary and Alternative Medicine (PDQ®).” National Cancer Institute, 27 July 2017, www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/pc-spes-pdq. Accessed 20 June 2024.
“PC-SPES, PC-HOPE, PC-CARE and PC-PLUS - Complementary and Alternative Therapy.” Cancer Research UK, 4 July 2022, www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative-therapies/individual-therapies/pc-spes-pc-hope. Accessed 20 June 2024.
Sagar, Stephen M., and Christina M. Garchinski. "Alternative Therapies as Primary Treatments for Cancer." Integrative Oncology, 2nd ed, Ed. Donald I. Abrams and Andrew T. Weil, Oxford: Oxford UP, 2014, pp. 714–63.