Endocrine and clinical effects of leuprolide in prostatic cancer

Twenty-nine subjects with metastatic carcinoma of the prostate received daily subcutaneous injections of leuprolide, a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analog. After transient gonadotropin and androgen stimulation, leuprolide induced long-term suppression of serum testosterone and gonadotropins production. In 25 subjects there was objective disease stabilization or tumor regression. Eleven subjects subsequently relapsed (median = 10 mo) after initiation of treatment. Except for vasomotor hot flashes, leuprolide appears to be well tolerated by patients with advanced prostatic cancer.