Endocrinology of Zoladex in postmenopausal women.

In the postmenopausal woman, low plasma oestrogen levels are due to the cessation of ovarian follicular activity, and residual oestrogen is thought to result from the adrenal glands and ovaries, both sources of androgens for peripheral oestrogen synthesis. In a study of 21 postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer, Zoladex (goserelin), 3.6 mg depot, monthly, had no affect on the adrenal-derived androgens, but a direct effect on ovarian secretion of androgens is thought to have occurred. Thus, in such women, medical adrenalectomy is likely to produce an incomplete suppression of plasma androgens, but its combination with Zoladex may provide a new therapeutic option.