Inhibition of human prostate stromal cell growth and smooth muscle contraction by thalidomide: A novel remedy in LUTS?

摘要

Background Medical treatment in benign prostatic hyperplasia targets prostate size to prevent disease progression, complications, and surgery, and prostate smooth muscle tone for rapid relief of lower urinary tract symptoms. Combination therapies are still required to target both at once. However, current medications are insufficient, due to an unfavorable balance between side effects and efficacy. The limited efficacy of alpha(1)-blockers may be due to nonadrenergic mediators like endothelin-1 and thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)), which keep up prostate smooth muscle contraction even in the presence of alpha(1)-blockers. Consequently, future options with higher efficacy need to target alpha(1)-adrenergic and nonadrenergic contractions as well as stromal cell growth at once. Thalidomide has been approved as an oral medication for various diseases, including the treatment of prostate cancer. Therefore, we investigated the effect of thalidomide on cellular functions of prostate stromal cells and human prostate smooth muscle contraction.