Histologic influence of doxazosin and finasteride in benign prostatic hyperplasia accompanying chronic inflammation.

AIM: To evaluate the influence of doxazosin and finasteride on histologic findings in benign prostatic hyperplasia accompanied by prostatitis, and to examine the factors related with prostate carcinogenesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prostate tissue from 17 cases of prostatic hyperplasia were divided into three groups; group 1: no medication history, group 2: both doxazosin and finasteride for at least 6 months before surgery; group 3: doxazosin for a minimum of 6 months before transurethral resection. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain and immunohistochemistry for COX-2, CD3, CD68, VEGF, and GSTP (glutathione S-transferase pi).

RESULTS: CD3 showed a tendency toward decreased staining intensity and extent in group 3 (p = 0.026, p = 0.004, respectively). CD68 showed a different staining extent among the three groups (p = 0.020). For VEGF, the staining extent showed different results between groups 2 and 3 (p = 0.044). There was no correlation between COX-2 and VEGF in group 1. However, a positive correlation between COX-2 and GSTP1 was demonstrated in group 2 (p = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONS: Doxazosin-treated prostate tissue showed decreased inflammatory reaction. GSTP1 expression was decreased in combined treatment with doxazosin and finasteride. These findings suggest that finasteride may interfere with the anti-inflammatory reaction. Finasteride also decreases angiogenesis. However, the meaning of our observations is limited by small sample size.