Final results of the prospective multicenter observational program RU-EGD-NI-001 for evaluation of efficacy and tolerability of the 6-month depot Eligard 45 mg in patients with advanced prostate carcinoma in routine clinical practice of uro-oncologists in the Russian Federation

Introduction. The 6-month depot formulation of leuproreline acetate 45 mg (Eligard, Astellas Pharma) was shown to reduce the levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and testosterone and to be well tolerated in patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa) in clinical trials as well as other depot formulations of leuproreline acetate (1- and 3-month). However, clinical trials are limited by strict patient inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Objective of this study, sponsored by Astellas Pharma Russia, was to assess whether the efficacy and tolerability of the 6-month leuprorelin depot formulation could be confirmed in a broad and heterogeneous patient population encountered in daily clinical practice in the Russian Federation.

Materials and methods. A non-interventional multicenter study (a observational program) was conducted in male patients with advanced PCa (T3–4, N+/M+, or with progression after local treatment) to whom Eligard 45 mg had been prescribed. Patients were followed every 6 months up to 24 months of treatment. Fifty three uro-oncologists from out-patient clinics in the Russia participated in the study.

Results. The study enrolled 640 patients, of which 524 met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Mean age of the patients was 69.0 ± 8.6 years old (from 46 to 96 years old). In most cases hormonal therapy with Eligard 45 mg was performed for locally advanced PCa (50 % of patients), distant metastases were detected in 15 % subjects only, nodal involvement was detected in 12 % patients. Patients with initially localized prostate cancer (41.4 %) were prescribed Eligard 45 mg because of progression of their disease after local treatment or inability to receive any other treatment. Eligard 45 mg monotherapy was used in 92.75 % cases. Only 7.25 % patients received combined hormonal therapy with Eligard 45 mg and bicalutamide, flutamide and zoledronic acid. Mean serum PSA level was reduced by 81,7 % from 38,47 ng/ml at baseline to 7.05 ng/ml after 24 months of treatment, while mean testosterone level was reduced by 88 % from 92.12 to 11.03 ng/dl. Testosterone level below 50 and 20 ng/dl was reached by 97 and 88 % of patients. There was a change in mean quality of life based on EQ-5D-5L questionnaire: mean value of health status according to visual scale increased from 76.15 ± 14.10 to 78.22 ± 15.99 mm. The number of adverse drug reactions was low and amounted to 1.41 % of all patient population. Asthenia, headache, arterial hypertension, dizziness and nausea were the most commonly reported adverse drug reactions.

Conclusions. These results suggest that the 6-month leuprorelin acetate depot formulations are well tolerated and reliably lower serum PSA and testosterone levels in daily clinical practice in patients with advanced PCa. These data are consistent with efficacy and tolerability results from clinical trials. 

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