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'Zoladex(R)' (Goserelin) Adjuvant to Radiotherapy Found to Extend
Life in Prostate Cancer Patients
Independent 10-year Study Confirms Powerful Beneficial Effect of Goserelin
Following Radiotherapy
MACCLESFIELD, England, April 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- New long-term data
published this month shows that giving goserelin following radiotherapy extends
life for men with prostate cancer.[1] The independent study by the Radiation
Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG study 85-31) involving nearly 1,000 patients with
locally advanced prostate cancer is one of the longest and largest studies of
its type. The study shows that administering goserelin following radiotherapy
reduces the progression of prostate cancer and significantly improves survival.
The RTOG is a clinical research component of the American College of Radiology.
"Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in many
Western countries, it is the most common male cancer in the US and the
incidence of the disease is increasing", points out Dr Colleen Lawton, from the
RTOG. "These data provide new hope for long term survival for prostate cancer
patients. By adding hormonal therapy, we can now begin to think in terms of
increased possibilities of freedom from prostate cancer."
The RTOG study evaluated the effectiveness of administering goserelin to
patients with prostate cancer treated with radiotherapy. Nearly one thousand
(977) patients with locally advanced prostate cancer received either
radiotherapy followed by monthly adjuvant goserelin 3.6 mg, or radiotherapy
alone followed by observation and goserelin administration at relapse.
Results showed that, for patients receiving goserelin adjuvant to radiotherapy,
significant improvements were seen in terms of overall survival, disease-free
survival, the likelihood of distant metastases and of local failure.
Goserelin
Goserelin, first introduced in 1987, is a Luteinising Hormone-Releasing Hormone
agonist (LHRHa) which reduces levels of sex hormones (testosterone in men and
oestradiol in women) and is used to treat prostate cancer in men and
hormone-dependent breast cancer in pre- and peri-menopausal women. Since
launch, there have been over 3.75 million patient years' exposure to the drug's
benefits.
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the presence of cancer cells in the prostate gland. It is
the second most commonly diagnosed male cancer in many western countries, and
is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer deaths.[2],[3],[4] Over
679,000 new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed worldwide in 2002.[5] The
prostate is a male sex gland that produces a thick fluid that forms part of
semen. It is normally about the size of a walnut and is located below the
bladder and in front of the rectum.
AstraZeneca in Oncology
AstraZeneca continues its tradition of research excellence and innovation in
oncology that led to the development of its current anti-cancer therapies
including 'Arimidex' (anastrozole), 'Casodex' (bicalutamide), 'Faslodex'
(fulvestrant), 'Nolvadex' (tamoxifen), 'Zoladex' (goserelin), and 'Iressa'
(gefitinib), as well as a range of novel targeted products such as
anti-proliferatives, anti-angiogenics, vascular targeting and anti-invasive
agents. AstraZeneca has over 20 different anti-cancer projects in research and
development.
'Zoladex', 'Arimidex', 'Casodex', 'Faslodex', 'Nolvadex' and 'Iressa' are
trademarks of the AstraZeneca group of companies.
References
[1] Pilepich MV, Winter K, Lawton CA et al. Androgen suppression adjuvant to
definitive radiotherapy in carcinoma of the prostate - Long term results of
phase III RTOG 85-31. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2005; 61 (5):1285-1290
[2] Kirby RS, Watson A, Newling DWW et al. Prostate cancer and sexual function.
Prostate cancer and prostatic diseases 1998; 1: 179-184
[3] Jones GW. Magnitude of the problem. Cancer 1993; 71: 887 - 890
[4] Parker SL, Tong T, Bolden S, Wingo PA. Cancer statistics 1996. Ca Cancer J
Clin 1996; 46: 5-27
[5] http://www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/ The Prostate Cancer Charity. 25th April
2001
DATASOURCE: AstraZeneca
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