[An analog of gonadoliberin in the treatment of prostatic carcinoma]

Twenty-five patients with prostatic carcinoma were involved in a Gehan's oriented phase II trial of D-Trp6-LH-RH in daily doses of 500 mcg for 7 days and 100 mcg for 3 months, this lapse of time being considered optimal for evaluation of the short-term response to treatment in this disease. Serum levels of LH and testosterone decreased rapidly. After 3 months of treatment, pain had disappeared in 14/21 patients; urinary symptoms had completely regressed in 10/22 patients and partially regressed in 9. A more than 50% reduction in prostatic enlargement was detected by ultrasonography in 7/19 patients, and the overall proportion of regression at scintigraphy was 43%. Prostatic acid phosphatases decreased by more than 50% in 10/15 patients. The results obtained with this LH-RH agonist were equivalent to those of orchidectomy and oestrogen therapy. The new drug was well tolerated. Although some of the patients treated are still responding after more than 15 months of treatment, further studies are required to evaluate the duration of response.