Subcutaneous Depot Leuprorelin

Am J Cancer 2004; 3 (3): 203 GUEST COMMENTARIES 1175-6357/04/0003-0203/$31.00/0 © 2004 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved. This subcutaneous depot leuprorelin (leuprolide acetate) for- Subcutaneous Depot Leuprorelin A Viewpoint by Mark Rosenthal mulation is a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist available for 1-, 3-, or 4-month application. Its pharmaco- Cancer Trials Australia, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, dynamic, pharmacokinetic, and adverse-effect profiles mimic Parkville, Victoria, Australia those of other LHRH agonists. Castration testosterone levels are Hormone therapy for prostate cancer has a history extending achieved in almost 100% of patients by 6–8 months. A transient over 60 years. This form of therapy has a defined role in metastatic increase in testosterone levels is observed within 2–3 days of disease, in the treatment of localized prostate cancer in conjunc- administration, potentially resulting in a ’flare’ phenomenon. tion with irradiation, and in the treatment of locally advanced, node-positive disease. Controversy remains as to the benefits of Thus, care should be exercised in patients with impending spinal combined androgen ablation and the timing of hormone therapy cord compression, ureteric obstruction, or significant tumor bulk, following biochemical disease progression after definitive therapy to ensure that they are not compromised by the introduction of of localized prostate cancer. Ongoing issues include the strategy of leuprorelin without previous cover with an anti-androgen. As with intermittent hormone therapy, adjuvant hormone therapy in con- other LHRH agonists, the adverse-effect profile includes hot flash- junction with chemotherapy, and the role of bisphosphonates in es, lethargy, feminization, weight gain, osteoporosis, and nau- ameliorating osteoporosis associated with prolonged hormone sea. ▲ therapy.

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Transcript of Subcutaneous Depot Leuprorelin

Am J Cancer 2004; 3 (3): 203GUEST COMMENTARIES 1175-6357/04/0003-0203/$31.00/0

This subcutaneous depot leuprorelin (leuprolide acetate) for-Subcutaneous Depot LeuprorelinA Viewpoint by Mark Rosenthal mulation is a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)

agonist available for 1-, 3-, or 4-month application. Its pharmaco-Cancer Trials Australia, The Royal Melbourne Hospital,dynamic, pharmacokinetic, and adverse-effect profiles mimicParkville, Victoria, Australiathose of other LHRH agonists. Castration testosterone levels are

Hormone therapy for prostate cancer has a history extendingachieved in almost 100% of patients by 6–8 months. A transientover 60 years. This form of therapy has a defined role in metastaticincrease in testosterone levels is observed within 2–3 days ofdisease, in the treatment of localized prostate cancer in conjunc-administration, potentially resulting in a ’flare’ phenomenon.tion with irradiation, and in the treatment of locally advanced,

node-positive disease. Controversy remains as to the benefits of Thus, care should be exercised in patients with impending spinalcombined androgen ablation and the timing of hormone therapy cord compression, ureteric obstruction, or significant tumor bulk,following biochemical disease progression after definitive therapy to ensure that they are not compromised by the introduction ofof localized prostate cancer. Ongoing issues include the strategy of leuprorelin without previous cover with an anti-androgen. As withintermittent hormone therapy, adjuvant hormone therapy in con-

other LHRH agonists, the adverse-effect profile includes hot flash-junction with chemotherapy, and the role of bisphosphonates in

es, lethargy, feminization, weight gain, osteoporosis, and nau-ameliorating osteoporosis associated with prolonged hormonesea. ▲therapy.