Maximum androgen blockade using LHRH agonist buserelin in combination with short-term (two weeks) or long-term (continuous) cyproterone acetate is not superior to standard androgen deprivation in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Final analysis of EORTC GU Group Trial 30843. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EROTC) Genito-Urinary Tract Cancer Cooperative Group.

This is the final analysis of EORTC GU Group Trial 30843 in which the treatment of advanced, metastatic prostate cancer with a combination of the LHRH agonist buserelin (nasal spray) and cyproterone acetate (Androcur), either continuously of only during the first 2 weeks, was compared with orchidectomy. There was no significant difference between the three arms as far as response rate, time to progression (subjective and objective) and duration of survival are concerned. Retrospective stratification according to the most important prognostic factors did not change the conclusions. Possible reasons for the difference with trial 30853, which used the same entry criteria but compared goserelin and flutamide with orchidectomy, are discussed. Reasons for using cyproterone acetate in combination treatment are the prevention of flare of the disease after LHRH agonists only and the prevention/reduction of toxicity in the form of hot flushes.