Zoladex treatment of symptomatic prostatic carcinoma

The depot LH-RH agonist Zoladex was used to treat 38 patients with previously untreated symptomatic stage D2 prostate carcinoma. Side effects were minimal and patient acceptability excellent, although temporary tumor flare occurred in 11% of patients. Eighty-four percent experienced subjective improvement and 87% had objective evidence of initial disease stabilization or remission lasting 3 months. Serum levels of gonadotrophin and free testosterone as well as androgens of adrenal origin fell significantly with treatment. Long-term survival to date appears at least as good as that described for conventional endocrine therapy.