Korean J Urol.  2009 Oct;50(10):947-954.

The Effect of Finasteride on Microvessel Density and Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and 5alpha-Reductase in Prostatic Hyperplasia

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon, Korea. ovalboy@hanmail.net

Abstract

PURPOSE
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent stimulator of angiogenesis and microvessel density (MVD), which is an important indicator of neoangiogenesis, were independently evaluated to elucidate the mechanism of decreased bleeding observed in patients treated with finasteride, an inhibitor of 5alpha-reductase (5AR). We evaluated MVD and the expression of VEGF and 5AR type II in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treated with finasteride. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 61 patients undergoing transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) for BPH. Among these patients, 29 had well-preserved paraffin blocks, 13 of whom were given finasteride for a minimum of 3 weeks before surgery; the remaining 16 patients served as controls. MVD was calculated by counting the number of positively stained blood vessels on 5 random, high-power fields within the prostatic section. Expressions of VEGF and 5AR type II were analyzed with a confocal laser scanning microscope and an image analyzer.
RESULTS
Prostatic MVD was significantly lower in the finasteride-treated group (p<0.05). The expression of VEGF and 5AR type II at the level of the prostatic glandular epithelium and stroma was not significantly different between the 2 groups. VEGF and 5AR type II were more strongly expressed in the epithelium of both groups than in stromal smooth cells (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Finasteride treatment had no clear effect on the expression of VEGF or 5AR type II. It is possible, however, that finasteride improves blood loss after TURP and BPH-induced hematuria by reducing MVD. Further study on the mechanism of MVD reduction is needed.

Keyword

Vascular endothelial growth factor A; Steroid-5alpha-reductase type 2; Prostatic hyperplasia; Finasteride

MeSH Terms

3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase
Blood Vessels
Epithelium
Finasteride
Hematuria
Hemorrhage
Humans
Microvessels
Paraffin
Prostatic Hyperplasia
Transurethral Resection of Prostate
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase
Finasteride
Paraffin
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Immunohistochemistry of CD34-stained sections showing microvessel density in the finasteride-treated (A) and control (B) groups. CD34-stained microvessels were less in the finasteride-treated group than in the control group. Reduced from ×200.

  • Fig. 2 Microvessel density in the finasteride-treated and control groups. Microvessel density was lower in the finasteride-treated group than in the control group (p<0.05). Bars are Mean±SD. MVD: microvessel density.

  • Fig. 3 Immunofluorescent staining of VEGF and 5AR in the finasteride-treated and control groups. (A, E): DAPI staining of the nucleus in BPH specimens. (B, C, F, G): There were no differences in expression of 5AR and VEGF between the finasteride-treated and control groups. Luminal epithelium (arrow) shows stronger 5AR and VEGF immunoreactivity than does the stroma (arrowhead) in both groups. (D, H): Merged image of 5AR and VEGF (A-D: finasteride-treated group; E-H: control group). Reduced from ×400. VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor, 5AR: 5-α reductase.

  • Fig. 4 Expression of VEGF and 5AR in the finasteride-treated and control groups. No difference in expression is shown between the finasteride-treated and control groups according to regional distribution. However, the luminal epithelium shows stronger expression than the stroma in both the finasteride-treated and control groups (p<0.05). Bars are Mean±SD. VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor, 5AR: 5-α reductase. a,b: p<0.05 compared with stromal VEGF, c,d: p<0.05 compared with stromal 5AR.


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