A number of practical differences exist between the different LHRH agonist preparations available, which may impact on clinical practice. It is important for healthcare providers to be aware and carefully consider these differences when selecting treatments for their prostate cancer patients.
Background: There are two slow-release ready-to-use forms of leuprorelin acetate (1-month and 3-month) that are available as solid, biodegradable implants for the treatment of advanced, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. These implants have been shown to be as effective as traditional leuprorelin acetate microspheres for achieving successful testosterone suppression (⩽0.5 ng/ml) and lowering prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Here we further evaluate testosterone suppression levels from four clinical trials evaluating the 3-month leuprorelin implant, including analysis below the European Association of Urology (EAU) castration level (<0.2 ng/ml). Methods: Studies were conducted in patients with locally advanced/metastatic prostate cancer: (1) a randomised, controlled single-dose study comparing the leuprorelin implant with leuprorelin microspheres; (2) a single-arm, single-dose study of the leuprorelin implant; (3 and 4) two long-term studies with the leuprorelin implant administered twice, 12 or 16 weeks apart. Patients received 3-month leuprorelin (5 mg) implant or 3-month leuprorelin (10.72 mg) microspheres. Testosterone levels were analysed using radioimmunoassay or ultrasensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Both the leuprorelin implant and the leuprorelin microspheres achieved mean testosterone suppression (⩽0.5 ng/ml) within 4 weeks for >3 months. In both long-term, single-arm studies with the leuprorelin implant, median values of testosterone ⩽0.2 ng/ml were achieved at Week 4 and maintained until study completion (6 and 8 months); PSA decrease was also observed versus baseline. Conclusions: Long-lasting steady serum levels of testosterone, comparable with orchiectomy and consistent with the EAU-recommended castration level (<0.2 ng/ml), were achieved at Week 4 and maintained up to 8 months in men with advanced prostate cancer who received the leuprorelin implant.
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