Goserelin and locally advanced prostate cancer: new indication. Pros and cons

(1) Goserelin, a GnRH agonist, has a new licensed indication in France, as an adjuvant to external radiotherapy for locally advanced prosate cancer. (2) The clinical file in this indication includes two trials of satisfactory methodological quality comparing radiotherapy + goserelin with radiotherapy alone. (3) In these trials the radiotherapy + goserelin combination increased the specific-symptom-free survival time. (4) In one trial goserelin caused endocrine disorders in 19% of patients. There were also more cases of urinary incontinence (13% in absolute values) among patients receiving the radiotherapy + goserelin combination. Furthermore, goserelin almost always causes impotence and reduced libido.