title: Selection criteria for initiation and renewal of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist therapy in patients with prostate cancer: a French prospective observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define the profile of patients with prostate cancer (PCa) receiving a 3-month or 6-month formulation of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist in France and the reasons for choosing between formulations.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective 1-year observational study included patients with PCa starting LHRH agonist therapy in everyday practice. Reasons for prescription and patient preference were recorded at inclusion, 3 or 6 months, and 12 months. The percentage of patients with a renewed initial prescription was recorded during follow up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1438 patients with PCa were included. Hormonotherapy was initiated more frequently with a 6-month (n = 903; 62.8%) than with a 3-month formulation (n = 535; 37.2%). The initial prescription was renewed in most patients after 3 or 6 months (86.1%) and 12 months (71%); 170 patients switched from a 3-month to a 6-month formulation during follow up. Presence of metastases influenced initial prescription (odds ratio 0.439; 95% confidence interval 1.095-1.892), with a 3-month formulation more often prescribed than a 6-month formulation to men with metastatic PCa at diagnosis (21.3% versus 15.8%, respectively). The most frequent reasons given by physicians for choosing the 6-month formulation were 'simplification of therapeutic regimen' (86.9%) or 'fewer unnecessary visits' (46.8%). Similar reasons were given for switching from a 3-month to a 6-month formulation during follow up. The most frequent reasons given by physicians to initiate therapy with a 3-month formulation were 'usual practice/habit' (55.5%) or 'closer patient management' (46.2%). 'Closer patient management' and 'reassuring effect upon patient' were the main reasons for switching from a 6-month to a 3-month formulation during follow up. Approximately 80% of patients were satisfied with the formulation they were prescribed and patients' reasons for preferring one formulation over another were similar to the physicians' reasons for prescribing these formulations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Slow-release formulations of LHRH agonists are useful therapies for physicians treating patients with PCa and there may be a preference for the 6-month formulation.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Foch, service d'urologie, Université de Versailles-Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, 40, rue Worth, BP 36, 92151 Suresnes cedex, France.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lebret
authors.affiliation: Clinique Rhône-Durance, Avignon, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Davin
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hennequin
authors.affiliation: Clinique Pasteur, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Latorzeff
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Privé, Saint-Brieuc, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Mignard
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Urologie, Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Nord, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Pierre Benite, France.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruffion
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zerbib
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Culine
keywords: hormonotherapy; luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists; prostate cancer; slow-release formulations