The prostate is a male sex gland that adds fluid and nutrients to the sperm. Along with the other major male sex glands, it makes, stores, and secretes the seminal fluid. It is a firm, somewhat muscular, chestnut - or walnut-sized gland found immediately below the bladder and in front of the rectum. In order for the prostate to function properly, it needs androgens, or male hormones, which are responsible for the sex characteristics in men. The main hormone is testosterone, mainly produced by the testicles.
The tube (urethra) carrying the urine runs through the prostate. The urethra works in two ways:
• During urination, it transports urine from the bladder; and
• It carries the semen during ejaculation.
Male Anatomy
As with many organs of the body, age and environmental factors can cause the organs to become susceptible to
disease, cancer being one of them. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2006, over 230,000 new cases
of prostate cancer will be diagnosed.
Indications and Usage TRELSTAR® Depot and TRELSTAR®
LA are indicated in the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer. TRELSTAR
Depot or TRELSTAR LA offer an alternative treatment for prostate cancer when orchiectomy
or estrogen administration are either not indicated or unacceptable to the patient.
Safety Information
The most commonly reported adverse events associated with the use of TRELSTAR®
Depot/TRELSTAR® LA included hot flushes (58.6%/73.0%), skeletal pain
(12.1%/13.2%), impotence (7.1%/2.3%), headache (5.0%/6.9%), leg pain (2.1%/5.2%),
and edema in legs (0.0%/6.3%) . TRELSTAR is contraindicated in women who are or
may become pregnant as well as patients who are hypersensitive to triptorelin, other
LHRH agonists, or LHRH . Infrequent postmarketing reports of anaphylactic shock
and angioedema have been received since 1986 (global experience) . As with all LHRH
agonists, triptorelin causes an initial transient increase in testosterone levels.
Patients may experience the onset or exacerbation of symptoms during this period,
including bone pain, neuropathy, hematuria, spinal cord compression, or urethral
or bladder outlet obstruction. Patients with metastatic vertebral lesions and/or
urinary tract obstruction should be closely observed.
