Open Access

REVIEW

GnRH antagonists in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer

Peter J. Pommerville¹, Johan G. de Boer²

1 Can-Med Clinical Research Inc, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
2 De Boer Consulting, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Address correspondence to Dr. Peter J. Pommerville, Can-Med Clinical Research Inc, 330-1641 Hillside Avenue, Victoria, BC, V8T 5G1 Canada

Canadian Journal of Urology 2010, 17(2), 5063-5070.

Abstract

Analogues of the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) inhibit the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This has provided treatment modalities for advanced and metastatic prostate cancer. The latest group of analogues, the GnRH antagonists, make promising treatments available that avoid the transient surge in testosterone that occurs with the use of GnRH agonists. Such surges may stimulate tumor growth, causing patients to experience new or worsening cancer symptoms and potential serious adverse effects, including increased bone pain, urinary retention, and spinal cord compression and consequently delay the therapeutic benefi ts of agonist therapy. Degarelix, an antagonist, recently approved in the United States and Europe, achieves faster, more profound and sustained testosterone suppression and with fewer adverse effects when compared with agonists and other antagonists. This review discusses and compares the compounds degarelix, abarelix, and cetrorelix.

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Keywords

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