Does Finasteride Prevent Prostate Cancer?

Men who received finasteride for 7 years had a lower overall incidence of prostate cancer but a higher incidence of high-grade tumors.

Finasteride (Proscar), which inhibits conversion of testosterone to the more potent androgen dihydrotestosterone, reduces symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Because androgens promote the development of prostate cancer, a multicenter trial was undertaken to determine whether finasteride prevents prostate cancer.

Researchers randomized more than 18,000 men (age, 55 or older) with normal digital examinations and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels of ≤3 ng/mL to receive either finasteride (5 mg daily) or placebo for 7 years. During the trial, prostate biopsies were recommended if digital exams became abnormal or if PSA levels exceeded 4.0 ng/mL (in the finasteride group, PSA values were adjusted to account for finasteride's PSA-…

Reviewing Author

Allan S. Brett, MD