title: Simultaneous administration of a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonist and diethylstilbestrol in the initial treatment of prostatic cancer.
abstract: It is well known that the first administration of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LH-RH) analogues induces an initial increase of luteinizing hormone (LH) release and a subsequent rise in testosterone (T). This rise is maximal after 3-4 days and is followed by a steady fall of LH and T. Several investigators have reported flare-up symptoms in patients with advanced prostatic cancer, associated with the rise of T, when treated by LH-RH analogue alone. In order to prevent these flare-up symptoms, we treated 20 patients with advanced prostatic cancer with an association of a LH-RH analogue (Zoladex Depot) and diethylstilbestrol (DES) 1 mg/day. DES was given for 14 days, starting 7 days before the first Zoladex Depot injection. T fell to near castrate levels within a few days, but rose again 3-4 days after the administration of the LH-RH analogue to pretreatment values before returning to castrate levels. No clinical flare-up manifestations were recorded. We conclude that combination treatment with DES can prevent the flare-up symptoms induced by LH-RH analogue in patients with prostatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, A.Z. Middleheim, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mahler
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Denis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002064:Buserelin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D017273:Goserelin; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000188:drug therapy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D017273:Goserelin; D013739:Testosterone; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002064:Buserelin