Goserelin implant
For the treatment of metastatic and locally advanced prostate cancer, endometriosis, advanced breast cancer
Goserelin is a synthetic peptide that can be used in particular in the treatment of hormone-dependent tumors, especially prostate cancer. For example, goserelin intake has an indirect effect on the testosterone level in men, the reduction of which stops the growth of malignant cancerous tumors.
The cancer cannot be cured because about a fifth of tumor cells are hormone-resistant. However, 80 percent of patients achieve remission. It is an analog of natural gonadoliberin, which is released in a pulsatile manner and binds to receptors in the anterior pituitary gland, a part of the brain. This causes the release of luteinizing hormone (LH), which is necessary for the production of testosterone in men, in the anterior pituitary gland.
If the action of the pituitary gland is not pulsating, but rather uninterrupted, the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland becomes insensitive to the stimulation ("down-regulation"). The lasting effect of goserelin thus causes - after an initial stimulation - a strong reduction in the pituitary hormone levels and as a result an inhibition of testosterone production.
In principle, a goserelin implant achieves the same testosterone level as after removal of one or both testicles (orchiectomy). The advantage of a goserelin implant is obvious: clinical studies have proven that the therapeutic success of goserelin implants and castration is almost equivalent. With a goserelin implant, the trauma of castration can be avoided. In addition, goserelin therapy has fewer undesirable side effects than treatments with other drugs such as diethylstilbestrol.
Goserelin can be used in breast cancer and endometriosis (proliferation of the lining of the uterus) due to its inhibiting effect on the release of sex hormones. However, these indications have not yet been sufficiently clinically tested.
AMW GmbH has independently developed goserelin implants with dosages of 3.6 mg (one-month implant) and 10.8 mg (three-month implant).
In addition, AMW GmbH also offers Leuprorelin implantsfor the treatment of the same indication.
