Formula slows tumour growth

Special, high-dose formulations of vitamin D and common, over-the-counter painkillers can greatly slow the growth of prostate cancer tumours, US researchers report.

Combining the two slowed their growth by up to 70 per cent in a laboratory dish, the team at the Stanford University School of Medicine found.

David Feldman and colleagues are so impressed that they have started a clinical trial to see if the approach also works in men.

"There is great enhancement when the drugs are given together, using what we think is a safe dose in humans," Feldman said.

"It's hard to make an exact comparison, as we are talking about cells in a dish and not a person."

Feldman's team plans to test the drugs in men whose prostate cancer has returned after surgery or radiation therapy.

- REUTERS