OBJECTIVES:
Primary
* Compare the effects of selenium vs placebo on tissue biomarkers of prostate cancer susceptibility, using tissue samples from biopsies before and after treatment, in patients undergoing brachytherapy for stage I or II prostate cancer.
Secondary
* Determine the effects of selenium on antioxidant enzyme activities in these patients.
* Determine, preliminarily, whether there is a threshold effect among patients with low baseline levels of selenium treated with this drug.
OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.
* Arm I: Patients receive oral selenium for 3-6 weeks. Patients then undergo brachytherapy.
* Arm II: Patients receive oral placebo for 3-6 weeks. Patients then undergo brachytherapy.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed at 1 and 6 months.
