OBJECTIVES:
* Determine the feasibility of Brassica vegetable intake and indole-3-carbinol supplement use in patients with prostate cancer with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence after prostatectomy.
* Identify adverse events in these patients.
* Quantify the effects of each intervention on PSA in these patients.
OUTLINE: Patients are stratified by pretreatment prostat-specific antigen (PSA) growth rate (low \[0.00-0.15\] vs medium \[0.16-0.30\] vs high \[\> 0.30\]). They are randomized to 1 of 3 treatment arms, and randomization status to arms II and III is double-blinded.
* Arm I (Brassica vegetables): Patients consume Brassica vegetables at least 2 servings (½ cup/serving) daily for 6 months. Patients meet one-on-one with the study dietician, and are instructed on the potential health benefits of Brassica vegetables and purchase and preparation of the vegetables. Patients undergo telephone counseling periodically in months 1-5, to monitor their progress and identify barriers to adherence and to develop solutions to overcome these barriers.
* Arm II (Placebo): Patients receive oral placebo once daily for 6 months.
* Arm III (Indole-3-carbinol supplement): Patients receive oral indole-3-carbinol supplement (capsules) once daily for 6 months.
Blood and urine samples (for urinary isothiocyanate levels) are collected at baseline and at 2, 4, and 6 months. Patients complete questionnaires assessing demographics, family cancer history, and health history and measuring changes in medications, lifestyle, adverse events, and health. Medical records are reviewed for prostate cancer-related information, surgical dates, dose and type of radiation, and PSA history.
