Finasteride does not prevent bladder cancer: A secondary analysis of the Medical Therapy for Prostatic Symptoms Study

Abstract

Background: Preclinical models have demonstrated that androgen receptor modulation can influence bladder carcinogenesis with an inverse association observed between serum androgen levels and bladder cancer (BC) incidence. It is still unclear whether 5α-reductase inhibitors, by preventing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, have a similar effect. This study aims to evaluate whether dihydrotestosterone-mediated androgen activity has an impact on BC incidence in a cohort of men included in a clinical trial of finasteride vs. placebo with rigorous compliance monitoring. Methods: A secondary analysis was performed on all patients enrolled in the Medical Therapy for Prostatic Sy..