Finasteride targets prostate vascularity by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting cell adhesion of benign and malignant prostate cells.
BACKGROUND
This study investigated the effects of finasteride, a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, clinically used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) on prostate tumor vascularity, apoptosis, and cell adhesion in situ and in vitro.


METHODS
Prostate specimens from BPH patients treated with finasteride for 1-12 months (n = 13), or without finasteride treatment (n = 14), were evaluated for apoptosis (TUNEL assay), microvessel density (Factor VIII), and prostate specific antigen (PSA) immunoreactivity. In vitro, the effect of finasteride was investigated in benign prostate cells, BPH-1, and its tumorigenic derivatives, CAFTD-01 and CAFTD-03, using Hoechst staining and cell adhesion assays.


RESULTS
A significant increase in the apoptotic index, and reduced microvessel density and PSA expression were detected in prostates from finasteride-treated patients, compared to controls (P < 0.01). In vitro finasteride led to a significant decrease in prostate epithelial cell adhesion (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Finasteride can induce prostate apoptosis and reduce tissue vascularity by inhibiting epithelial cell adhesion. This evidence supports that finasteride has apoptotic and anti-angiogenic effects against benign and malignant prostate.
Sutton
M Tandy
MT
Division of Urology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, 800 Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
Yingling
Melissa
M
Vyas
Ash
A
Atiemo
Humphrey
H
Borkowski
Andrew
A
Jacobs
Stephen C
SC
Kyprianou
Natasha
N
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000032:analysis; D018120:Finasteride / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D011467:Prostate / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D018120:Finasteride; D005169:Factor VIII; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen