2 Drugs Weighed for Cancer Prevention

Two drugs now on the market reduce the risk of prostate cancer, health regulators said November 29. But they questioned the value of taking them for this purpose. Prostate tumors often grow so slowly that they are not life-threatening. The drugs in question are dutasteride (Avodart) and finasteride (Proscar). They are approved now to treat an enlarged prostate. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is weighing whether to approve them for prevention of prostate cancer as well. FDA scientists said the research submitted shows that the drugs can prevent prostate cancer. But they said it falls short in one way. The research included very few African-American men. This group has a high risk of prostate cancer. An outside panel of advisers will vote December 1 on whether the drugs are safe and effective for prostate cancer prevention. The Associated Press wrote about the issue.