Purpose: Growing evidence implies that selenium and vitamin E may decrease the risk of prostate cancer. The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) is a randomized prospective double-blind study designed to determine whether selenium and vitamin E decrease the risk of prostate cancer in healthy men.
Materials and methods: The preclinical and epidemiological evidence regarding chemoprevention with selenium and vitamin E were reviewed. Secondary analyses from randomized trials of the 2 agents were included in the current analysis. Data from these analyses as well as evidence from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial were used to develop the SELECT schema.
Results: Preclinical, epidemiological and phase III data imply that selenium and vitamin E have potential efficacy for prostate cancer prevention. The experience of the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial shows the interest and dedication of healthy men to long-term studies of cancer prevention. A total of 32,400 men are planned to be randomized in SELECT.
Conclusions: SELECT is the second large-scale study of chemoprevention for prostate cancer. Enrollment in the study is planned to begin in 2001 with final results anticipated in 2013.