5α-Reductase Inhibitors Impact Prognosis of Urothelial Carcinoma
September 2020
in “
BMC Cancer
”
Studysummary This retrospective cohort study found that patients using 5α-reductase inhibitors had reduced bladder cancer-related mortality compared to nonusers, with no significant effect on bladder cancer recurrence or upper tract urothelial carcinoma mortality.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
The study examined the effects of 5α-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) on urothelial carcinoma outcomes using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database, involving 18,530 men with bladder cancer and 4,384 men with upper tract urothelial carcinoma. It found that 5-ARIs recipients had a lower risk of bladder cancer-related death compared to nonusers, but there was no significant difference in bladder cancer recurrence rates or upper tract urothelial carcinoma-related mortality. The results suggested that 5-ARIs could potentially improve bladder cancer outcomes, although the study's retrospective nature and lack of data on confounding factors like smoking history limited the conclusions, highlighting the need for further research.
