Chemoprevention strategies for prostate cancer: The role of 5α‐reductase inhibitors

Prostate cancer is a major health problem for the aging male population. Despite hormonal dependence, the inevitable emergence of androgen insensitive tumors, which have a dismal prognosis, highlights the needs to develop prevention strategies such as chemoprevention. An acceptable agent must interfere with either the process of carcinogenesis of tumor growth, and have minimal toxicity. In clinical studies, 5α‐reductase inhibitors have been shown to suppress serum and intraprostatic levels of dihydrotestosterone, an important promoter of prostate cancer, leading to reduction in prostate size and suppression of glandular cell activity as measured by prostate specific antigen secretion. In addition, 5α‐reductase inhibitors have demonstrated an excellent safety profile and tolerability in 12 month controlled clinical trials. No significant metabolic effects have been observed in gonadotropin secretion, spermatogenesis, serum lipids or glucose tolerance. The production, strongly supports investigating their use for chemoprevention of prostate cancer. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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