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	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

The phase 1 trials of finasteride (Propecia/Proscar; Merck) have shown that finasteride at 1 mg (Propecia) as well as finasteride at 5 mg (Proscar) blocks 5- reductase.

The genetic, biochemical, epidemiological, experimental, and clinical reasons for my warning^1-2 3 years ago that use of finasteride promotes prostate cancer have been confirmed by the findings of a finasteride chemoprevention trial (Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial [PCPT]) involving 18 882 men followed up for 7 years. The trial was stopped after 9060 men underwent biopsy during the trial or at the end of 7 years.

It was found that "Finasteride prevents or delays the appearance of prostate cancer" by 24.6% (finasteride, 803/4368 [18.4%]; placebo, 1147/4692 [24.4%]) but "increased the risk of high-grade prostate cancer (Grade 7, 8, 9, 10)" by 67% (finasteride, 280/757 [37%]; placebo, 237/1068 [22.2%] [P<.001]) in men diagnosed as having prostate cancer.³

Patrick Walsh, MD, stated in his critique . . . [Full Text of this Article]

W. Reid Pitts, Jr, MD

Correspondence: Dr Pitts, 115 E 61st St, New York, NY 10021.

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