Intranasal buserelin in the treatment of advanced prostatic cancer: a phase II trial

Thirty-five patients with advanced prostatic cancer were entered in a trial of nasally administered gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue agonist (GnRHA) buserelin. Four patients were unevaluable for response and toxicity. Twenty-five patients responded to treatment, two with complete remissions, 12 with partial remissions, and 11 who improved. The median baseline value for testosterone was 14.4 nmol/L. After 1 week of treatment, the median value was 10.8 nmol/L, while after 1 month the median value had decreased to 1.1 nmol/L (normal, 10.0 to 34.7). It is concluded that intranasal buserelin is an effective, simple, and safe method to achieve androgen deprivation in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer and is an alternative to orchiectomy and more acceptable than daily subcutaneous injections.