Three Considerations Before Advising 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors for Chemoprevention

    June 2009 in “ Journal of Clinical Oncology ”
    Patrick C. Walsh
    TLDR 5-α-reductase inhibitors don't prevent prostate cancer but may reduce unnecessary biopsies.
    The document discussed three key considerations regarding the use of 5-α-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) for prostate cancer chemoprevention. It highlighted that 5-ARIs did not prevent prostate cancer but reduced the likelihood of men undergoing diagnostic biopsies by lowering prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels by at least 50%, potentially creating a false sense of security. In the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT), 25% fewer men on finasteride were diagnosed with prostate cancer, primarily because 15% fewer underwent biopsies. Among those who did have biopsies, the risk of a positive result was only reduced by 10%, with a non-significant 3% absolute difference compared to placebo. Therefore, finasteride did not significantly reduce cancer risk in men who were closely monitored and underwent biopsies due to elevated PSA or abnormal exams, which was the intended prevention setting.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 1000+ results

      community Hormonal panel after 1 year of treatment - DHT levels doubled!!

      in Finasteride/Dutasteride  6 upvotes 2 years ago
      A 27-year-old man shared his hormonal panel results after one year of taking finasteride 1mg/day for hair loss, showing his DHT levels nearly doubled. He reported stabilized hair loss with mild side effects that resolved, and he is considering a hair transplant but is concerned about the increased DHT levels and potential treatment options.
      FCE 28260: A Forgotten 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

      community FCE 28260: A Forgotten 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

      in Research  330 upvotes 1 year ago
      FCE 28260 (PNU 156765), an under-explored 5α-reductase inhibitor, showcases promising results in research by Giudici et al., outperforming well-known treatments like Finasteride in reducing the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Its superior efficacy, demonstrated through lower IC50 values in both natural and human recombinant enzyme studies, suggests it could offer more effective management of DHT-related conditions. Additionally, its lower molecular weight hints at better potential for topical application, potentially offering advantages in treating conditions such as androgenic alopecia. Despite its potential, it has not advanced in development, possibly due to financial limitations, leaving its therapeutic prospects and side effect profile largely unexplored.

      community EU Shouldn't Ban Fin & Dut: PFS is NOT REAL.

      in Research/Science  11 upvotes 11 months ago
      Finasteride and Dutasteride do not cause depression or "Post Finasteride Syndrome," with concerns often linked to the nocebo effect and preexisting mental health issues. The EU is unlikely to ban these drugs, but access may become more restricted due to ongoing debates.

    Similar Research

    6 / 1000+ results
      Antiandrogens and Androgen Inhibitors in Dermatologic Treatments

      research Antiandrogens and Androgen Inhibitors in Dermatologic Treatments

      November 2020 in “Elsevier eBooks”
      Antiandrogens and androgen inhibitors like spironolactone, finasteride, and dutasteride can treat hair loss and skin conditions, but they have risks and side effects, including potential harm to pregnant women and risks of cancer and heart issues. Herbal remedies also have antiandrogenic effects but lack safety validation.
      5α-Reductase Inhibitors

      research 5α-Reductase Inhibitors

      17 citations , November 1997 in “Andrology”
      Finasteride effectively treats enlarged prostate and male baldness, improves symptoms of hirsutism in women, but doesn't work for acne, and may delay prostate cancer progression with few side effects.
      Finasteride

      research Finasteride

      40 citations , April 1999 in “Drugs”
      Finasteride treats enlarged prostate, improves urinary flow, but may cause sexual side effects.