Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonists: the US experience.

In a large multicentre trial, 1 mg/day leuprorelin given subcutaneously was as effective as diethylstilboestrol in the treatment of prostatic cancer but with a lower incidence of side-effects, although leuprorelin could induce tumour flare-up. Total androgen ablation using a combination of leuprorelin and the non-steroidal anti-androgen flutamide in the treatment of prostatic cancer was more effective than either orchidectomy or diethylstilboestrol. The efficacy of 1 mg/day leuprorelin given subcutaneously plus 250 mg flutamide three times a day compared with leuprorelin plus placebo was confirmed in a randomized, double-blind study of 603 patients. Progression-free and overall survival were prolonged, and tumour flare-up and other side-effects were reduced in patients with untreated advanced prostatic cancer and in those with minimal disease.