The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American Urological Association (AUA) are now recommending 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs), such as finasteride or dutasteride, for the prevention of prostate cancer, according to a joint guideline published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology .

A panel of experts, including investigators from the National Institutes of Health, used results from a systematic review of the medical literature to develop evidence-based recommendations on the use of 5-ARIs in the prevention of prostate cancer. They concluded that asymptomatic men with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 3.0 ng/mL or less who undergo regular PSA screening might benefit from a discussion with their doctors about using 5-ARIs for prostate cancer prevention. They also concluded that men who were currently using these medications to treat non-cancerous condition might also benefit from a similar discussion

It's important to note that over 90% of the men participating in the clinical trials that were reviewed were white, so the results might not apply to all ethnic or racial groups. While 5-ARIs seemed to reduce the risk of prostate cancer, the effect of 5-ARIs on the rate of prostate cancer-related deaths is not known. The new guidelines stress the importance of physician-patient communication, as there are both risks and benefits associated with the usage of 5-ARIs.

Source

JCO Early Release, published online ahead of print Feb 24 2009.