Long-term therapy with a depot luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (Zoladex) in patients with advanced prostatic carcinoma.

We treated 191 patients with histologically proved locally advanced stage (T3 or T4) and/or metastatic prostate cancer with a biodegradable depot formulation of a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (Zoladex). After an initial increase in serum testosterone in week 1 of therapy a continuous decrease of testosterone to castrate levels was obtained. With a monthly injection of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue 4 patients (2 per cent) experienced a transient increase in bone pain, 1 had ureteral obstruction and 1 suffered paraplegia during the first few weeks of therapy. Over-all objective and subjective responses were similar to those obtained by castration or estrogen therapy. The absence of local and systemic (long-term) side effects proves the validity of this approach for patients with advanced prostatic cancer.