Does Propecia prevent prostate cancer?
We don’t know. The PCPT evaluated only the 5 mg dose of finasteride, not the 1 mg dose marketed as Propecia. • What proportion of men in the study was African American? About 4 percent of the men in the PCPT were African American. PCPT investigators made strong efforts to invite African American men to participate in this trial, but participation was voluntary and investigators did not succeed in enrolling a large number of African Americans. Prostate cancer is a critical issue for African American men, who have the highest rates of this disease in the world. Finasteride was shown to be as effective in reducing prostate cancer risk among African American men as in men of other races. Additional Research • What else has been found in the PCPT data about prostate cancer and finasteride since the trial ended? • Finasteride improves detection of prostate cancers. Finasteride has several effects on the prostate that allow better detection of prostate cancers. The drug shrinks the prostate,
