Treatment of advanced carcinoma of the prostate with a depot luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (ICI-118630).

We treated 37 patients with newly diagnosed advanced prostatic cancer with monthly injections of a long acting depot preparation of a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone superagonist. Serum testosterone levels were reduced to and maintained within the castrate range, even in cases of objective progression. The partial objective regression rate was 43 per cent, with 36 per cent of the patients having objectively stable disease and 21 per cent having objective progression. The subjective improvement rate was 67 per cent. The addition of a short course of diethylstilbestrol at the initiation of therapy appeared to shorten the delay for the subjective improvement. Patient acceptance was excellent and side effects were minimal. Depot luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogues, alone or in combination, may well become a preferred alternative treatment for patients with advanced prostatic cancer.