MEDIA CONTACT: Elizabeth Crown at (312) 503-8928 or at e-crown@northwestern.edu

February 3, 2004

Soybean Chemical May Treat Prostate Cancer

CHICAGO --- Genistein is a chemical found in soybeans that blocks development of prostate cancer in laboratory models of the disease. Now, a Northwestern University study will determine whether genistein is effective in the treatment of prostate cancer in humans.

The principal investigator for the study at Northwestern is Raymond Bergan, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, division of hematology/oncology, at the Feinberg School of Medicine. Bergan is also director of experimental therapeutics at The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

To qualify for the study, men must recently have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and plan to have surgery to have their prostate removed. Participation in the study will not delay surgery.

Participants will take one pill a day, either before or after surgery. The effects of the study treatment on prostate cancer will be assessed in the laboratory.

For more information, call 312-908-5284.