5-α reductase inhibitors and prostate cancer prevention: where do we turn now?
Abstract
With the lifetime risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer so great, an effective
chemopreventive agent could have a profound impact on the lives of men. Despite decades
of searching for such an agent, physicians still do not have an approved drug to offer
their patients. In this article, we outline current strategies for preventing prostate
cancer in general, with a focus on the 5-α-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) finasteride
and dutasteride. We discuss the two landmark randomized, controlled trials of finasteride
and dutasteride, highlighting the controversies stemming from the results, and address
the issue of 5-ARI use, including reasons why providers may be hesitant to use these
agents for chemoprevention. We further discuss the recent US Food and Drug Administration
ruling against the proposed new indication for dutasteride and the change to the labeling
of finasteride, both of which were intended to permit physicians to use the drugs
for chemoprevention. Finally, we discuss future directions for 5-ARI research.
Type
Journal articleSubject
5-alpha Reductase InhibitorsAzasteroids
Chemoprevention
Drug Approval
Dutasteride
Finasteride
Humans
Male
Prostatic Neoplasms
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Treatment Outcome
United States
United States Food and Drug Administration
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/8912Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1186/1741-7015-9-105Publication Info
Hamilton, Robert J; & Freedland, Stephen J (2011). 5-α reductase inhibitors and prostate cancer prevention: where do we turn now?. BMC Med, 9. pp. 105. 10.1186/1741-7015-9-105. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/8912.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
Collections
More Info
Show full item record
Articles written by Duke faculty are made available through the campus open access policy. For more information see: Duke Open Access Policy
Rights for Collection: Scholarly Articles
Works are deposited here by their authors, and represent their research and opinions, not that of Duke University. Some materials and descriptions may include offensive content. More info