Finasteride May Benefit Those at High-Risk for Prostate Cancer

Cancer researchers have reviewed data accumulated during studies on the anti-prostate cancer drug finasteride and have concluded that while treatment with the drug may not be cost-effective in low risk patients, it does offer significant benefits to those with high risk of developing the disease.

Investigators from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas, USA) reviewed the findings of the 1993-2003 [U. S.] National Cancer Institute's Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT). This study had concluded that finasteride reduced the risk of developing prostate cancer by 24.8%.

The current review, which was published in the January 10, 2008, issue of the journal Cancer, highlighted other PCPT findings that showed that finasteride also reduced urinary-tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. On the other hand, it also decreased sexual desire and caused impotence in 5% of the trial participants.

"Finasteride is currently the only drug that has been shown to prevent prostate cancer in a large, randomized trial but is used for this purpose in very few men,” said senior author Dr. Yair Lotan, assistant professor of urology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. "A large number of patients are currently taking over-the-counter supplements to prevent prostate cancer, even though there is no scientific evidence to support these products' claims. It is important for patients to be aware of this scientific trial and to ask their doctors if finasteride could benefit them. Men who are at low risk for prostate cancer might view taking finasteride as not very cost effective when considering its impact on their quality of life. On the other hand, patients at high risk might see it differently because it lessens their chances of developing prostate cancer.”


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University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center