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Degarelix 240/80 mg: a new treatment option for patients with advanced prostate cancer

Laurent Boccon-Gibod1, Peter Iversen, Bo-Eric Persson

  • 1Hôpital Bichat, 46 Rue Henri Huchard, Paris 75018, France. laurent.boccon-gibod@bch.aphp.fr

Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy
|December 4, 2009
PubMed

Insights

New gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) blockers offer immediate testosterone suppression for advanced prostate cancer, avoiding the flare seen with GnRH agonists. Degarelix is a new GnRH blocker approved for hormone-sensitive advanced prostate cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Hormonal therapy is a cornerstone in managing advanced prostate cancer.
  • Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists are commonly used but can cause a testosterone surge (clinical flare).
  • GnRH antagonists represent a newer therapeutic option with a different mechanism of action.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review Phase III trial data comparing degarelix (GnRH blocker) with leuprolide (GnRH agonist).
  • To highlight the efficacy and safety profile of degarelix for advanced prostate cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Phase III clinical trial data analysis.
  • Comparison of degarelix (240/80 mg) versus leuprolide (7.5 mg).

Main Results:

  • Degarelix demonstrated immediate onset of action.
  • Degarelix did not cause an initial surge in testosterone levels.
  • Degarelix showed comparable efficacy to leuprolide in suppressing testosterone.

Conclusions:

  • GnRH blockers, such as degarelix, provide an alternative hormonal therapy for advanced prostate cancer.
  • Degarelix offers advantages over GnRH agonists by avoiding clinical flare.
  • Recent approvals by EMEA and US FDA support degarelix use in hormone-sensitive advanced prostate cancer.

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