Dutesteride slows progression in men with low risk prostate cancer

The Redeem study was set up to investigate whether dutesteride is effective in treating men with low risk (PSA <11 and Gleason score 6 or less)  prostate cancer. Results published in Lancet (2012) suggest that, in this randomised controlled double blind trial of 302 pateints (147 actively treated with 155 matching placebo treated men), prostate cancer progression was reduced in those patients recieving 0.5mg dutesteride daily. Approximatly 1/3 of the treated patients progressed compared to 1/2 of those not treated. Mortality and adverse events were similar in both groups at 3 years.