Chemoprevention of prostate cancer: the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial.
BACKGROUND
A variety of innovative approaches to the prevention of prostate cancer are now available, including selenium, alpha tocopherol, dietary interventions, and vitamin D. Perhaps the most promising opportunity is based upon considerable evidence that cumulative androgen exposure of the prostate contributes to the age-related risk of prostate cancer.


METHODS
The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial has completed randomization of over 18,000 healthy men to either finasteride or placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
While the primary objective of this study is to determine whether finasteride can reduce the period prevalence of prostate cancer over a 7-year period, the biologic and data resources of this study will provide multiple opportunities to better understand this most common cancer in U.S. men.
Thompson
I M
IM
Department of Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas 78234-6200, USA.
Coltman
C A
CA
Crowley
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018120:Finasteride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012643:Selenium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D014807:Vitamin D; D014810:Vitamin E; D018120:Finasteride; D012643:Selenium