Chemoprevention using dutasteride: the REDUCE trial

This article will review the design and rationale of the dutasteride prostate cancer chemoprevention trial known as the REDUCE trial (Reduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events) in the context of the recently completed Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial.

The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial used the 5alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride to prevent prostate cancer in a prospective randomized trial. The trial demonstrated a nearly 25% reduction in the prevalence of prostate cancer compared with placebo. Finasteride is a type 2-specific 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, whereas dutasteride is an inhibitor of both type 1 and type 2 5alpha-reductase. Recent evidence suggests that there may be increased expression of the type 1 5alpha-reductase in prostate cancer versus benign prostate tissue making dutasteride an attractive agent to study.

Proof of principle has been demonstrated by the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial that a chemoprevention strategy using a hormonal agent such as a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor can be effective. The REDUCE trial will use the dual 5alpha-reductase inhibitor dutasteride in a group of men identified at increased risk of developing prostate cancer to determine if this will be an effective chemoprevention strategy.