Rosiglitazone (Avandia) vs. Placebo for Androgen Dependent Prostate Cancer

• Patients will be randomly assigned to initial treatment with either rosiglitazone or placebo orally twice daily, every day as long as there is no disease progression or serious side effects. Patients will be asked to complete a drug log to keep track of the medication.
• Before treatment begins the following tests will be performed: physical exam; bone scan; blood work (including PSA level test) and a urine sample.
• While on this study the following tests and procedures will be done once a month: review of side effects and routine blood tests (including PSA levels).
• While on this study the following tests and procedures will be done on months 2 and 4: review of side effects; routine blood tests (including PSA levels) and urine tests.
• If the patient's disease progressed the treatment code will be broken and if the patient was on placebo, they will have the option to begin taking rosiglitazone.

Inclusion criteria

• Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate
• Biochemical disease progression following local therapy defined as three rises in PSA with each PSA determination at least 4 weeks apart and each PSA value > or = 0.2ng/ml
• For men treated with radical prostatectomy, PSA > or = 2 ng/ml
• For men treated with primary radiation therapy or post-prostatectomy radiation therapy, PSA > or = 2 ng/ml and > 150% post-radiation nadir
• Not an appropriate candidate for salvage radiation therapy or salvage prostatectomy
• Baseline PSADT < 24 months
• CALGB performance status of 0,1 or 2

Exclusion criteria

• Metastatic disease
• Prior hormonal therapy for recurrent prostate cancer
• Prior chemotherapy for prostate cancer
• Current treatment with insulin or an oral hypoglycemic
• History of treatment with thiazolidinediones
• Radiation therapy within 6 months
• SGOT > 1.5 x ULN
• Fasting blood glucose < 60 mg/dl
• NYHA Class 3 or 4 cardiac status