title: Effect of triptorelin on lower urinary tract symptoms in Australian prostate cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prostate cancer is often comorbidly associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), but few studies have assessed the effects of androgen deprivation therapy on LUTS in this patient group.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective, noninterventional, multicenter, observational study to assess the effectiveness of triptorelin (11.25 mg every 12 weeks) over 48 weeks in men presenting with local stage T3/4 prostate cancer and moderate to severe LUTS (International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS] >7) in a routine practice setting in Australia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 44 men who enrolled, effectiveness data were available for 39 men. By the end of the study, 30% of men no longer met the IPSS criteria for moderate to severe LUTS. The proportion of patients with moderate to severe LUTS was 69.6% (16/23) at week 48 and 76.9% (30/39) at the last available visit (coprimary outcomes). An IPSS reduction of ≥3 from week 0 was observed in 47% of men at week 4, 56% at week 24, 61% (14/23) at week 48, and 61.5% (24/39) at the last available visit. Quality of life was rated as mostly satisfied-to-delighted by 39.5% of patients at week 0, 53.9% at week 24, and 77.3% at week 48. Triptorelin was well tolerated with 8 treatment-related adverse events reported, half of which were hot flushes; 5 patients discontinued due to the reported treatment-related adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This observational study suggests that triptorelin improves moderate to severe LUTS in prostate cancer patients in a routine clinical practice setting.
authors.affiliation: Sydney Adventist Hospital Clinical School, University of Sydney, Wahroonga, NSW.
authors.forename: Henry H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC; Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre, Epworth Healthcare, Richmond, VIC.
authors.forename: Declan G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Shire Urology, Miranda, NSW.
authors.forename: Gerard M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.affiliation: Australian Urology Associates, Malvern, VIC.
authors.forename: Jeremy P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Grummet
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Repatriation General Hospital, Daw Park, SA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.affiliation: Ipsen Pty Ltd, Glen Waverley, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Stork
keywords: GnRH agonist; IPSS