PC-SPES is an alternative medicine supplement made from multiple herbs and marketed as a treatment for prostate cancer.

There is no good evidence it is of any benefit as a cancer treatment.

Similar supplements

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Other similar supplements are named PC-CARE, PC-PLUS and PC-HOPE. Like PC-SPES they have no good evidence of medical benefit.[1]

History

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PC-SPES was devised and patented by Sophie Chen in the 1990s.[2] The formulation was patented and the drug manufactured and sitributed by a Californian company, BotanicLab.[3]

Clinical trials of PC-SPES appeared to show it had some effect on human hormones, but it was discovered the PC-SPES had been adulterated with estrogenic chemicals, which were likely the cause of these effects.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "PC-SPES, PC-HOPE, PC-CARE and PC-PLUS". Cancer Research UK. 4 July 2022.
  2. ^ Barrett S (23 March 2018). "The Rise and Fall of PC-SPES and Its Marketers". QuackWatch.
  3. ^ a b PDQ Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies Editorial Board (22 November 2004). "PC-SPES (PDQ®): Health Professional Version". PC-SPES (PDQ Cancer Information Summaries). PDQ Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies Editorial Board. PMID 26389352.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)