Prostate Drug May Cut Cancer Risk
A new study found that a drug currently used to treat a benign prostate condition may also be an effective way to prevent prostate cancer, reports the Los Angeles Times. GlaxoSmithKline's Avodart, approved to treat benign prostate enlargement, reduced the risk of developing cancer in 3,305 men at elevated risk of the disease by 22.8 percent compared to those men given a placebo. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, did find a slightly increased risk of heart failure in those taking the drug: 0.7 percent, compared to 0.4 percent in the placebo group. The Times said previous research showed a protective effect from a similar drug, but that Avodart appears "slightly more effective." GlaxoSmithKline is seeking Food and Drug Administration approval for the expanded use of the drug.
