Study of Tamsulosin and/or Dutasteride to Relieve Urinary Symptoms After Brachytherapy for Localized Prostate Cancer

A Randomized Trial of Tamsulosin and/or Dutasteride Versus Placebo to Relieve Urinary Symptoms After Brachytherapy for the Treatment of Localized Prostate Cancer

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a drug named tamsulosin (Flomax), or another drug named dutasteride (Avodart), or a combination of these two drugs is effective in improving urinary symptoms and decreasing the rate of intermittent self-catheterization after prostate brachytherapy.

Image-guided transperineal permanent prostate brachytherapy (PI) is an accepted curative treatment option for patients with early stage prostate cancer. The most severe side effect of PI is urinary retention requiring intermittent self-catheterization (ISC). This study will assess the ability of pharmacologic intervention to ameliorate the post-operative side effect of PI. The use of both tamsulosin and dutasteride is proposed to have benefit in reducing urinary symptom score and in reducing the rate of intermittent self-catheterization for patients with prostate adenocarcinoma after prostate implant.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient is eligible for a prostate implant
• Patient is greater than 18 years of age
• Patient is able to give informed consent
• Patient does not currently take Flomax, Dutasteride or Finasteride
• Patient does not have a known hypersensitivity reaction to Flomax or Dutasteride

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have a known hypersensitivity reaction to tamsulosin, dutasteride or finasteride and those patients who are already on any prior to prostate implantation
• Patients who are taking a PDE-5 inhibitor including sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra) are ineligible to participate unless they are willing to discontinue using those drugs one week prior to their implant and for three months after the implant