IL‐8, a diagnostic marker of BPH, can activate the myofibroblast phenotype of BPH reactive stroma.16, 25 Furthermore, IL1‐α induced fibroblast growth factors (FGF‐2 and FGF‐7) and promoted benign prostate tumor growth in a mouse model, and FGF‐2 and FGF‐7 were elevated in BPH epithelium.6, 26 Above parallels between the characteristics of radiation‐exposed prostate epithelial cells in vitro and senescent epithelial cells in vivo in BPH suggest that radiation‐induced prematurely senescent prostate epithelial cells can be a platform for dissecting regulatory factors that promote BPH pathology. This evidence concerns the gene FGF7 and benign prostatic hyperplasia.