Finasteride effects on hypoxia and angiogenetic markers in benign prostatic hyperplasia.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of finasteride on angiogenetic and hypoxia markers in benign prostatic hyperplasia.


METHODS
A total of 178 patients aged 51 to 85 years (mean 68.7) with benign prostatic hyperplasia and awaiting transurethral prostate resection were prospectively randomized into a group of patients receiving finasteride (group 1; 88 patients) and a group of patients who received no medication until transurethral prostate resection (group 2; 90 patients). Tissue specimens were immunohistochemically stained with monoclonal antibodies against CD34 for microvessel density (MVD), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha).


RESULTS
Blood loss during transurethral prostate resection was significantly higher in group 2 compared with group 1 (P <0.001). The distribution of CD34 immunostaining was mainly at the suburethral prostate. MVD, VEGF, and HIF-1alpha values were significantly lower statistically (P <0.001) in group 1 compared with group 2. In the finasteride group (group 1), the positive correlation of the immunoreactivity of CD34 and HIF-1alpha, VEGF and HIF-1alpha, and VEGF and CD34 was statistically significant (P <0.001). In the same group, MVD and VEGF and HIF-1alpha expression correlated statistically with the treatment duration.


CONCLUSIONS
Finasteride administration in benign prostatic hyperplasia results in statistically significant suppression of MVD, VEGF, and HIF-1alpha in a time-dependent manner.
Lekas
Alexandros G
AG
Department of Urology, General Hospital of Nikea, Piraeus, Greece. alekas@med.uoa.gr
Lazaris
Andreas C
AC
Chrisofos
Michael
M
Papatsoris
Athanasios G
AG
Lappas
Dimitrios
D
Patsouris
Efstratios
E
Deliveliotis
Charalampos
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018120:Finasteride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011467:Prostate / Q000737:chemistry*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D018120:Finasteride