The future of prostate cancer prevention.
The dramatic international variation in prostate cancer mortality rates suggest an environmental influence. This combined with a building understanding of the genetic mechanisms of carcinogenesis encourages a search for ways to prevent it. Androgenic stimulation over a period of time has been suggested a cause of prostate cancer. The corollary to this hypothesis is that lowering androgenic stimulation over time will prevent prostate cancer. Decreasing androgenic stimulation of the prostate with 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors such as finasteride has been shown to decrease prostate size and may prevent prostate cancer. A large, long-term clinical trial is underway using finasteride to determine if it can prevent prostate cancer. Results are expected in 2004. Epidemiologic and laboratory studies also suggest that high selenium and vitamin E intake lowers risk of prostate cancer. Recent serendipitous findings of two randomized clinical trials support the hypothesis that selenium and vitamin administration will decrease prostate cancer risk. A study to assess these compounds is beginning. Other promising, but less developed, interventions in chemoprevention of prostate cancer include vitamin D supplementation and diet modification. All will need to be rigorously evaluated before they can be advocated for prostate cancer prevention.
Brawley
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Office of the Director, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20852, USA.
Barnes
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Parnes
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D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000728:Androgens; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D004032:Diet; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018120:Finasteride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019048:Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia / Q000188:drug therapy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012306:Risk; D012643:Selenium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D030262:Soybean Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use
D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D030262:Soybean Proteins; D014801:Vitamin A; D014807:Vitamin D; D014810:Vitamin E; D018120:Finasteride; D012643:Selenium