ABSTRACT This literature review discusses the theoretical background of 5α-reductase inhibitor (5ARI) treatment and the resulting clinical implications. A Medline-based search for

peer-reviewed articles addressing 5ARIs, benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer was performed. The 5ARIs Finasteride and Dutasteride, which specifically inhibit the production of

dihydrotestosterone by acting as competitive inhibitors of 5α-reductase, are clinically well tolerated and represent an effective treatment option for benign prostatic obstruction.

Finasteride is the first compound which has a proven efficacy in chemoprevention of prostate cancer. The aim of this review was to elucidate, if there are sufficient data available to point

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_Contemp Clin Trials_ 2007; 28: 763–769. Article  CAS  Google Scholar  Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * St. Theresienkrankenhaus, Nürnberg, Germany J Dörsam

* Urologische Abteilung, Chirurgische Klinik, München-Bogenhausen, Germany J Altwein Authors * J Dörsam View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar *

J Altwein View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to J Dörsam. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and

permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Dörsam, J., Altwein, J. 5α-Reductase inhibitor treatment of prostatic diseases: background and practical implications. _Prostate Cancer

Prostatic Dis_ 12, 130–136 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2008.56 Download citation * Received: 16 June 2008 * Revised: 15 September 2008 * Accepted: 08 October 2008 * Published: 25

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hyperplasia * prostate cancer * 5α-reductase * chemoprevention