The Use of the LHRH-Analogue Buserelin in the Treatment of Prostatic Cancer

Abstract

In the ten years from 1979 – 1988, a total of 1725 patients with advanced prostatic cancer were entered into 28 studies, in which Buserelin as a nasal spray was the main androgen deprivation therapy. Patients treated with orchiectomy or other anti-androgen agents used in comparative groups, were considered unsuitable for the purpose of this study, which pools the data of the 1522 patients who received Buserelin monotherapy. Patients with stages C, D1 or D2 prostatic cancer who received Buserelin as monotherapy and had a known treatment duration were eligible for efficacy analysis. The clinical evaluation was done in 91% by NPCP-criteria and in the remainder by criteria of the EORTC or ECOG, Seventy-five per cent of the patients received Buserelin nasal spray (3× dally 400 meg), 20% received subcutaneous injections (2× daily 200 meg) and 4% received 2 combinations of nasal spray, subcutaneous injections and depot, or depot alone. Compliance failures were found in 4.4% and 2.4% stopped treatment due to adverse reactions. Statistical analysis includes Kaplan-Meier estimates of time-to-progression and survival. Since 1985, after 2 patients died from possible flare reactions, anti-androgens have been recommended as additional therapy for the first few weeks. Features of this analysis of great interest are the national differences in progression-free survival and overall survival.

Keywords:

• Prostate cancer
• Buserelin
• Monotherapy
• National differences in survival