In a new study, researchers found that men taking drugs for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) could face a two-year delay in the diagnosis of their prostate cancer.
In addition, these men may be twice as likely to have advanced disease upon diagnosis.
The research was done by a team from the University of California San Diego.
BPH is a non-cancerous condition in which the enlarged prostate squeezes or blocks the urethra.
This condition affects more than 50% of men above the age of 50. It can lead to urinary symptoms.
Previous research has shown that drugs for treating BPH can inhibit the enzyme 5α-reductase, known as 5-ARIs.
This can result in a 50% reduction in the levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which is a protein produced by the prostate gland.
PSA test is used as a screening tool for prostate cancer because cancer can cause an increase in PSA levels.
In the study, the team examined 80,875 men with a PSA-known diagnosis between 2001 and 2015.
They found that 29% of 5-ARI users had a biopsy performed within two years of first elevated PSA compared to 59% of nonusers.
Men who took the drugs were diagnosed with prostate cancer 3.6 years after the first signs of elevated levels of PSA compared to 1.4 years for men who did not use the drugs.
Moreover, about 25% of 5-ARI users were diagnosed with high-grade cancers, while 17% of nonusers presented with high-grade cancers.
In addition, 7% of users had the metastatic disease compared to 3% of nonusers.
The finding shows it is important to raise awareness among doctors and patients that these drugs can cause PSA-suppression.
It is also important to create clear guidelines for early prostate cancer detection for men prescribed the drugs.
The senior author of the study is Brent S. Rose, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Radiation Medicine.
The study is published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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