Abstract
The clinical experience relating to the detection of prostate cancer in patients participating in 2 large multicenter clinical trials of finasteride in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia is reviewed. A total of 1,645 patients 40 to 83 years old with benign prostatic hyperplasia was randomized to receive 1 or 5 mg. finasteride or placebo once a day for 12 months in a double-blind fashion followed by an open extension study in which all patients were treated with 5 mg. finasteride daily. At entry, all patients were to have a maximum urinary flow rate of 15 ml. per second or less with a voided volume of 150 ml. or more, an enlarged prostate and symptoms of urinary obstruction. Patients with a prostate specific antigen level of 40 ng./ml. or more, or any finding suggestive of prostate cancer were excluded. During the study period 32 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed: 12 were detected during the 12 months of the controlled study and were evenly distributed among the treatment groups (4 on placebo, and 3 on 1 mg. and 5 on 5 mg. finasteride) and 20 cases were detected in the extension study. From these results we conclude that finasteride-treated patients should be evaluated periodically by digital rectal examination, careful monitoring of prostate specific antigen levels and appropriate investigation of any suspicious findings.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1296-1300 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Urology |
Volume | 151 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1994 |
Keywords
- prostate
- prostatic hypertrophy
- prostatic neoplasms