Hormonal treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: pros and cons

Comparison of Saw Palmetto (extract and whole berry) and Cernitin on prostate growth in rats

Pharmaceuticals such as finasteride and alpha blockers are used to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and are known to cause severe adverse reactions. Accordingly, a search for safer, natural products has been undertaken. Two natural agents (nutraceuticals) have come under recent scrutiny; because natural products, in general, often have evidence of long-term safety. The present study compares the in vivo effects on androgen-induced prostatic enlargement in rats of two nutraceuticals--the widely recognized Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) and the less well-known Cernitin (defined pollen extract). Non-castrated rats, had a mean prostate weight of 124 mg +/- 8.8 (S.E.M.) compared to the 24.5 mg +/- 1.9 (S.E.M.) of the castrated rat followed under the same regimen (p < 0.01). When castrated rats were given testosterone, the mass increased significantly to 250.0 mg +/- 31.7 (S.E.M.) (p < 0.01). In the five remaining groups, castrated rats receiving testosterone were given finasteride, an extract of Saw Palmetto, crushed whole berry derived from Saw Palmetto fruit, a water soluble and fat soluble extract of Cernitin or a combination of the Saw Palmetto extract and Cernitin. All treatments decreased the size of the prostate to roughly the same size as in the non-castrated rats, a size that was significantly smaller than castrated rats treated with testosterone in the same manner (p < 0.01). A second study examining non-castrated rats treated with very high doses of testosterone showed similar results. In both studies, the nutraceuticals generally decreased body weight. In conclusion, these studies show the ability of Saw Palmetto (whole berry and extract) and Cernitin to influence prostatic hyperplasia via effects on androgen metabolism.

New innovative therapies for benign prostatic hyperplasia: any advance?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the most common human neoplasm and it is the most frequent tumour requiring surgical treatment in men. Not surprisingly, interest centres on either understanding of prostatic growth during ageing or on various medical or interventional treatments.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent publications describe the interaction of various 5alpha-reductase inhibitors on the two 5alpha-reductase isoforms type 1 and 2, giving a potential new insight into the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Likewise, chronic inflammation increases growth patterns of fibromuscular tissue in benign prostatic hyperplasia similar to wound healing, and a paracrine loop for chronic inflammation with overexpression of interleukin could be identified. This could be of particular importance in the further understanding of prostatic enlargement. Herbal drug treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms seems to be more effective than previously thought. According to recent publications the effectiveness is well beyond placebo effects. Likewise, alpha-blockers play an important role in treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms with alpha-1 adrenoreceptor antagonists preventing cell proliferation and apoptotic imbalances in prostatic tissue. The effect of alpha-blockers, however, may be limited by severe bladder outlet obstruction with patients at increased risk of treatment failure. Laser prostatectomy and microwave thermotherapy are under consideration as alternative treatments of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The efficacy of urodynamically proven de-obstruction as compared with transurethral resection of the prostate needs to be evaluated. Newer alternative treatments like ethanol installation or bipolar plasma kinetic vaporization have been described, but long-term results and larger patients cohort are still lacking.

SUMMARY

New insights into prostatic growth and pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia are presented. Medical treatment and interventional therapies are evaluated for their safety and efficacy. Only a few new therapeutical options, however, have been published during this review period.