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3rd Quarter, 2002 - The long-awaited results of the 'MTOPS'
study (Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms) were unveiled May 27 at
the 2002 meeting of the American Urological Association in Orlando,
FL. The NIH-sponsored trial of 3000 men with symptomatic BPH was a 5-year
study comparing the effects of finasteride (Proscar), doxazosin (Cardura),
the combination of the two, and placebo. It is the largest, longest
study of its kind. The results were presented by John McConnell, principle
investigator, who concluded that the combination of the two drugs
yielded results superior to those seen with either drug alone or with
placebo.
 The
study is important because it provides a clear comparison of two major
drugs used in the treatment of prostatic obstruction, a problem seen
in some 10 million American men over the age of 50 y.o. Finasteride
(Proscar) was approved in 1992 and doxazosin (Cardura), one of
the alpha-blocking agents, was approved in 1995. When drug therapy has
been selected, one drug alone has usually been chosen. However, the
MTOPS data indicate that the use of finasteride and an alpha-blocking
agent together have become the drug therapy of choice for long-term
symptomatic relief and prevention of disease progression.
 17
academic medical centers contributed patients to the MTOPS trial, which
was organized in the early 1990s. Randomization
of patients into the study was completed between 1995 and 1998.
Other results from the MTOPS study will be forthcoming over the next
several years.
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