Purpose: Despite advances in the detection and management of prostate cancer, this disease remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in men. Increasing attention has focused on the role of chemoprevention for prostate cancer, ie the administration of agents that inhibit 1 or more steps in the natural history of prostate carcinogenesis. We review prostate cancer chemoprevention studies in Europe.
Materials and methods: Published studies were identified in a search of MEDLINE. Information about ongoing studies was provided by author access to protocols.
Results: A variety of chemoprevention studies have focused on the role of dietary factors, vitamins and trace elements in prostate cancer. Some of these studies have been prospective, randomized and double-blinded, while others have used retrospective or epidemiological approaches. Large scale randomized studies are also evaluating the role of 5alpha-reductase inhibitors, which inhibit the conversion of testosterone to the more potent androgen dihydrotestosterone.
Conclusions: Robust evidence is lacking for the value of chemopreventive agents in prostate cancer. Current evidence does suggest that vitamin E and selenium may have a role in prostate cancer chemoprevention. Data from 2 studies, 1 examining the type 1 5alpha-reductase selective inhibitor finasteride and the other using the dual 5alpha-reductase inhibitor dutasteride, will determine the benefits of androgen inhibition strategies for prostate cancer chemoprevention.