Finasteride and Prostate Cancer Prevention

The American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Urological Association have issued guidelines that recommend that healthy men consider finasteride to lower their level of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with the goal of preventing the development of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among men and the second-leading cause of cancer death in men.

Currently 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are used to treat non-cancerous conditions, such as male-pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Finasteride 1mg (Propecia) is used to treat hair loss and Finasteride 5mg (Proscar) and Dutasteride 2.5mg (Avodart) are used to treat prostate enlargement

Men who are considered healthy, are screened regularly for prostate cancer with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) score of 3.0 or below, and show no symptoms of the disease are being encouraged to speak with their doctor about using 5-alpha reductase inhibitors in the prevention of prostate cancer.

The guideline and recommendations are based on evidence gathered from clinical trials ranging from one to seven years, including the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial. Data from this trial showed a twenty-five percent reduction in the incidence of prostate cancer in most men taking the 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. (Journal of Clinical Oncology)