Clinical effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue in metastatic carcinoma of prostate.

Leuprolide is a new, potent analogue of gonadotropin-releasing hormone which, after an initial transient stimulation, causes a profound suppression of serum gonadotropins and testosterone. One hundred eighteen patients with advanced carcinoma of the prostate have undergone treatment with leuprolide in a multi-institutional trial. Minimal evidence of objective response was seen in patients who had failed prior endocrine therapy with orchiectomy or estrogens. In patients without previous hormonal treatment, leuprolide induced an objective disease response (72%) comparable to alternative primary endocrine therapy. Considering the lack of significant side effects seen with long-term GnRH agonists, compounds such as leuprolide may prove to be the preferred initial endocrine therapy for selected patients with metastatic carcinoma of the prostate.