[Relevance of chemoprevention from PCPT trial].

Chemoprevention involves the active use of a drug inhibiting carcinogenesis in order to prevent the development of cancer. Prostate cancer has a high prevalence, long latent period and screening is inadequate. The morbidity and mortality of prostate cancer are significant, making it a good candidate for chemoprevention. Finasteride meets most of the necessary criteria for a chemoprevention agent. Nevertheless, some further information still needs to be obtained before considering its use in practice: the real nature of the increase in Gleason score, envisaged health savings, side effects on sexuality, impact on patient survival and the ideal target population.