Prevalent decrease of the EGF content in the periurethral zone of BPH tissue induced by treatment with finasteride or...

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Endocrinology
• Oncology

Background:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in aging men.
• Hormonal factors, including testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), play a role in BPH development.
• Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is implicated in prostatic growth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of Finasteride and Flutamide on the regional distribution of T, DHT, and EGF in BPH tissue.
• To explore the relationship between DHT and EGF in BPH.
• To understand the role of these factors in the enlargement of specific prostatic zones.

Main Methods:

• Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to quantify T, DHT, and EGF.
• Tissue samples from 37 BPH patients (untreated, Flutamide-treated, Finasteride-treated) were analyzed.
• Hormone and growth factor levels were measured in total tissue and specific prostatic zones (periurethral, subcapsular, intermediate).

Main Results:

• In untreated BPH, periurethral T, DHT, and EGF were higher than in the subcapsular zone.
• Flutamide treatment increased T and decreased EGF in total tissue and periurethral zones, with no change in DHT.
• Finasteride treatment decreased T, DHT, and EGF, most notably in the periurethral zone.
• A positive correlation between DHT and EGF was observed in untreated and Finasteride-treated groups.

Conclusions:

• Epidermal growth factor (EGF) production in BPH is dependent on dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
• Both Finasteride and Flutamide reduced EGF, with Finasteride also reducing DHT, particularly in the periurethral region.
• DHT, possibly mediated by EGF, is implicated in the periurethral enlargement contributing to urinary obstruction in BPH.