Capsaicin may slow PSA doubling time: case report and literature review

Authors

  • Bojana Jankovic Faculty of Medicine, UBC, Vancouver
  • D. Andrew Loblaw Department of Radiation Oncology, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
  • Robert Nam Division of Urology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.784

Abstract

Capsaicin is the main pungent component of chili peppers. This
is the first case, to our knowledge, that describes prostatespecific
antigen (PSA) stabilization in a patient with prostate cancer,
who had biochemical failure after radiation therapy. A 66-
year-old male underwent radiotherapy treatment for a T2b, Gleason
7 (3+4) adenocarcinoma of the prostate, with a PSA level of
13.3 ng/mL in April 2001. He had 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy
of 46 Gy in 23 fractions to the prostate and pelvis, and a
prostate boost of 30 Gy in 15 fractions. Radiotherapy was completed
in May 2001 and PSA nadired in January 2002 (0.57). Due
to the continued PSA rise, the patient was started on bicalutamide
(50 mg orally, daily) and leuprolide acetate (1 dose of 22.5 mg
intramuscularly) in July 2005 when PSA was 38.5 ng/mL. Due to
poor tolerance of androgen ablation therapy, the patient discontinued
treatment and started taking 2.5 mL of habaneros chili
sauce, containing capsaicin, 1 to 2 times a week in April 2006.
Prostate-specific antigen doubling time (PSAdt) increased from
4 weeks before capsaicin to 7.3 months by October 2006. From
October 2006 until November 2007, the patient remained on
capsaicin (2.5 to 15 mL daily) and his PSA was stable (between
11 to 14 ng/mL). By January 2008, his PSA rose to 22.3 and he
has maintained a PSAdt between 4 and 5 months, where it presently
remains. Due to the patient’s continued PSA rise, he was restarted
on bicalutamide (12.5 mg daily). Apart from PSA relapse, the patient
remains free of signs or symptoms of recurrence.

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Author Biographies

Bojana Jankovic, Faculty of Medicine, UBC, Vancouver

D. Andrew Loblaw, Department of Radiation Oncology, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

Robert Nam, Division of Urology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON

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How to Cite

Jankovic, B., Loblaw, D. A., & Nam, R. (2013). Capsaicin may slow PSA doubling time: case report and literature review. Canadian Urological Association Journal, 4(1), E9-E11. https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.784

Issue

Section

Case Report