The aim of this study was to verify and to compare in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients, the effect of finasteride versus dutasteride therapy on chromogranin A (CgA) serum levels, as a marker of neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation.
Patients and methods: This was a prospective randomised study in which 60 consecutive men with clinical diagnosis of BPH were randomised to a 6-month period of finasteride 5 mg/day versus dutasteride 4 mg/day versus control (no therapy). Total prostate-specific antigen (PSA), testosterone and CgA were analysed at randomisation and thereafter at one-, three- and six-month intervals.
Results: In both Group A (finasteride) and Group B (dutasteride), but not in Group C (no therapy), a statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in serum CgA levels was found at the three- and six-month intervals of therapy when compared with the start. Comparing the three groups, at three- and six-month intervals, serum CgA was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Group A and B than in Group C. At each interval, no significant (p>0.05) difference between Group A and B was found.
Conclusion: In this population, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, with no difference between finasteride and dutasteride, produced a significant increase in serum CgA levels, probably related to NE activation.