Selective estrogen receptor modulators for the chemoprevention of prostatecancer

The ability to interfere with prostate carcinogenesis, and as a consequence , prevent. prostate cancer with drugs is the basis for chemoprevention. The prostate contains estrogen receptors in both the stroma and epithelium. Bo th animal models and human epidemiologic studies have implicated estrogens as an initiator of prostate cancer. In the aging male, prostate cancer occu rs in an environment of rising estrogen and decreasing androgen levels. Sel ective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) have shown the ability to preve nt (GTx-006 [acapodene]) and treat (GTx-006 and arzoxifene) prostate cancer , suggesting that they may be used in prostate cancer chemoprevention. A ph ase 2 clinical trial using GTx-006 for prostate cancer chemoprevention is c urrently being conducted. (C) 2001, Elsevier Science Inc.