Dutasteride and Flex Dose of Tamsulosin on as Needed Basis, to Treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Phase 4

Completed

Conditions: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Interventions: Drug: Tamsulosin

Registration Number: NCT00701779

Lead Sponsor: Siami, Paul F., M.D.

Brief Summary: This study will investigate the efficacy and safety of treatment with Dutasteride (0.5mg), administered once daily for one year in combination with Tamsulosin (0.4mg), administered once daily for 3 months, followed by counseling on flexible dosing of Tamsulosin on an as needed basis, on the improvement of symptoms and clinical outcome in men with moderate to severe symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). At each scheduled visit (3, 6, and 9 months), the subject will be counseled on withdrawal of Tamsulosin. After randomization, study visits are every 13 weeks for up to 52 Weeks. (Including Screening, (up to 7 clinic visits)

Detailed Description: This study will investigate the efficacy and safety of treatment with Dutasteride (0.5mg), administered once daily for one year in combination with Tamsulosin (0.4mg), administered once daily for 3 months, followed by counseling on flexible dosing of Tamsulosin on an as needed basis, on the improvement of symptoms and clinical outcome in men with moderate to severe symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). At each scheduled visit (3, 6, and 9 months), the subject will be counseled on withdrawal of Tamsulosin.

A recently published, landmark study (MTOPS - Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms), co-sponsored by the National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH-NIDDK), demonstrated that, in selected patients, combination therapy with Doxazosin and Finasteride provided additive symptomatic improvements, reduced the risk of acute urinary retention (AUR) and surgical intervention, and was a more effective treatment for reduction in the overall risk of BPH clinical progression.

The aim of this proposed combination study, in a population of patients at high risk of BPH clinical progression, is to investigate whether combination therapy with Dutasteride and Tamsulosin with the subsequent withdrawal of Tamsulosin can maintain superior symptom improvement. At each scheduled visit (3, 6, and 9 months), the subject will be counseled on withdrawal of Tamsulosin. We hypothesize that patients may start with a combination of Dutasteride and Tamsulosin and eventually may be able to eliminate the use of Tamsulosin and maintain acceptable urinary symptoms on Dutasteride alone.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: Male

Target Recruitment: 63

Inclusion Criteria

Male ≥50 yrs
Diagnosed BPH by medical history and physical examination, including a digital rectal examination
International Prostate Symptom Score ≥12 points at Screening
Prostate volume ≥30cc (by transrectal ultrasonography; TRUS)
Total serum Prostate Specific Antigen ≥1.5 ng/mL at Screening
Maximum flow rate ≥5 mL/sec and ≤15 mL/sec and minimum voided volume of ≥125 mL at Screening (based on two voids)
Able to give written informed consent and comply with study procedures
Literate in English language with the ability to read, comprehend, and record information on the IPSS, BII, and PPSM questionnaires
Able to swallow and retain oral medication
Able to participate for study duration

Exclusion Criteria

Total serum PSA >10.0 ng/mL at Screening. Patients with total serum PSA >10.0 ng/mL may be acceptable for inclusion if the PSA elevation is thought to be due to BPH and not prostate cancer (by TRUS and biopsies showing no evidence of prostate cancer).
History or evidence of prostate cancer
Previous prostatic surgery or other invasive procedures to treat BPH
History of flexible/rigid cystoscopy or other instrumentation of the urethra within 7 days prior to Screening. Catheterization (<10F) is acceptable with no time restriction.
History of AUR within 3 months prior to Screening
Post-void residual volume >250mL (suprapubic ultrasound) at Screening
Any causes other than BPH, which may in the judgment of the investigator, result in urinary symptoms or changes in flow rate
History of breast cancer or clinical breast examination finding of unclear origin or suggestive of malignancy
Use of 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, any drugs with antiandrogenic properties, or drugs noted for gynecomastia effects, within past 6 months and throughout the study. Previous use of AVODART within 12 months of the baseline or historical TRUS. Chronic use of Metronidazole is prohibited.
Concurrent use of anabolic steroids
Use of phytotherapy for BPH within 2 weeks of Screening
Use of any alpha-adrenoreceptor blockers within 2 weeks of Screening
Use of any alpha-adrenoreceptor agonists, anticholinergics or cholinergics within 48 hours prior to all uroflowmetry assessments.
Hypersensitivity to any alpha-/beta- adrenoreceptor blocker or 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, or other chemically-related drugs.
Concurrent use of drugs known or thought to interaction with Tamsulosin.
History of hepatic impairment, abnormal liver function at Screening, History of renal insufficiency, serum creatinine >1.5 times the upper limit
history of malignancies other than basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin within the past 2 years.
History of any illness the investigator might confound the results of the study or poses additional risk to the patient.
Any unstable, serious co-existing medical condition(s) 21. History of postural hypotension, dizziness, vertigo, or any other signs and symptoms of orthostasis.
History of 'first dose' hypotensive episode on initiation of alpha-l-adrenoreceptor antagonist therapy.
History of unsuccessful treatment with finasteride or Dutasteride 24. History or current drug or alcohol abuse within the previous 12 months. 25. Participation in any investigational or marketed drug trial within 30 days (or 5 half-lives whichever is the longer) preceding Screening and/or during the course of this study.

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Dutasteride	Tamsulosin	Dutasteride 0.5mg once daily for one year and tamsulosin 0.4mg administered once daily for 3 months, followed by counseling on flexible dosing of tamsulosin on an as needed basis. Subjects will self-administer the study medication once daily for up to 52 weeks (1 year). Subjects will return to the clinic at 13 week intervals during the treatment period. At each scheduled clinic visit (3, 6, and 9 months), the subjects will be counseled on withdrawal of Tamsulosin. The total study duration for each subject will be up to 52 weeks.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Peak Flow Rate (QMax)	12 months	Peak flow rate recorded at final study visit (12 month) to assess efficacy of starting with combination treatment with Dutasteride for one year and Tamsulosin for 3 months with subsequent as needed use of Tamsulosin in providing superior symptomatic improvement to BPH patients.
Benign Prostate Hyperplasia Impact Index	12 months	Benign prostate hyperplasia Impact Index obtained at final study visit (12 month) to assess efficacy of starting with combination treatment with Dutasteride for one year and Tamsulosin for 3 months with subsequent as needed use of Tamsulosin in providing superior symptomatic improvement to BPH patients. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Impact Index asked the following: 1. Over the past month, how much physical discomfort did any urinary problems cause you? (0-3) 2. Over the past month, how much did you worry about yoru health because of any urinary problems? (0-3) 3. Overall, how bothersome has any trouble with urination been during the past month? (0-3) 4. Over the past month, how much of the time has any urinary problem kept you from doing the kinds of things you usually do? (0-4) 0 indicates no symptoms, high values indicate high frequency of symptoms. Total symptom score range 0-13.
Prostate Specific Antigen	12 months	Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) taken at final study visit (12 month) to assess efficacy of starting with combination treatment with Dutasteride for one year and Tamsulosin for 3 months with subsequent as needed use of Tamsulosin in providing superior symptomatic improvement to BPH patients.
International Prostate Symptom Score	12 months	Reported mean total IPSS values from end of study (12 month visit) to assess efficacy of starting with combination treatment with Dutasteride for one year and Tamsulosin for 3 months with subsequent as needed use of Tamsulosin in providing superior symptomatic improvement to BPH patients. Questionnaire consisting of seven symptom scores: incomplete emptying, frequency, intermittency, urgency, weak stream, straining, and nocturia. Symptoms are scored on a 5 point scale with 0 representing absence of symptoms and 5 representing the most severe presentation of a symptom. Total range is from 0-35. The scores are evaluated as such: 0-7: Mild 8-19: Moderate 20-35: Severe
Post-void Residual Volume	12 months	Post-void residual volume taken at final study visit (12 month) to assess efficacy of starting with combination treatment with Dutasteride for one year and Tamsulosin for 3 months with subsequent as needed use of Tamsulosin in providing superior symptomatic improvement to BPH patients.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Health Outcome Measures	13 months	Number of participants who are able to subsequently reduce or discontinue Tamsulosin usage after starting with combination therapy with Dutasteride and Tamsulosin while still maintaining the same degree of improvement in lower urinary tract symptoms
Number of Participants With a Reduction of AUR and BPH-related Surgery	13 months	To assess efficacy of starting with combination treatment with Dutasteride for one year and Tamsulosin for 3 months with subsequent as needed use of Tamsulosin in providing superior improvement in the clinical outcomes of AUR or BPH-related prostatic surgery to BPH patients.
Economic Impact	13 months	Annual financial cost per participant starting with combination therapy with Dutasteride and Tamsulosin with subsequent withdrawal of Tamsulosin.
Safety and Tolerability	13 months	To assess safety and tolerability of starting with combination therapy with Dutasteride and Tamsulosin and subsequent elimination of Tamsulosin. Evaluating number of reported adverse events designated as possibly or probably study-drug related.