Triptorelin in the management of prostate cancer

Abstract

Among the therapies to achieve medical castration, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists have better safety profiles than estrogens and anti-androgens. In addition, slow-release formulations of GnRH agonists offer patients flexibility, improve quality of life and eventually reduce cost. To illustrate the role of medical castration in prostate cancer, this paper reviews data on the GnRH agonist triptorelin long-duration and shorter-duration formulations. A similar proportion of patients achieved and maintained castration levels of serum testosterone (≤50 ng/dl) with all triptorelin formulations. Moreover, using a stricter definition of medical castration (serum testosterone <20 ng/dl), castration was maintained in >90% of patients with the 6-month triptorelin formulation. The new formulation was also well-tolerated, whilst being more convenient for patients. This short review assesses the role of this GnRH agonist in the treatment of prostate cancer.