Looking back at PCPT: looking forward to new paradigms in prostate cancer screening and prevention.
OBJECTIVE
Provide a critical summary of the latest interpretation of findings from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT).


METHODS
Findings from PCPT and recently published post-hoc analyses are reviewed.


RESULTS
PCPT demonstrated that finasteride can reduce the prevalence of prostate cancer, permitted the first large-scale assessment of the performance characteristics of prostate-specific antigen for prostate cancer screening, and identified new-onset erectile dysfunction as an early predictor of cardiovascular events.


CONCLUSIONS
PCPT has and will continue to yield valuable information regarding future strategies for prostate cancer prevention and detection, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and other matters of public health importance.
Canby-Hagino
Edith
E
Department of Urology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. canbyhagino@uthscsa.edu
Hernandez
Javier
J
Brand
Timothy C
TC
Thompson
Ian
I
D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018120:Finasteride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors
D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018120:Finasteride; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen