Goserelin stimulates the production of the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen in a non-pulsatile (non-physiological) manner. This causes the disruption of the endogenous hormonal feedback systems, resulting in the down-regulation of testosterone and estrogen production.
Goserelin is used to treat hormone-sensitive cancers of the breast (in pre- and peri-menopausal women) and prostate, and some benign gynaecological disorders (endometriosis, uterine fibroids and endometrial thinning). In addition, goserelin is used in assisted reproduction and in the treatment of precocious puberty. It may also be used in the treatment of male-to-female transgender people.[6]
Short-term memory impairment has also been reported in women and may in some cases be severe, but this effect disappears gradually once treatment is discontinued.[8]<[9]
Pharmacology
Goserelin is a synthetic analogue of a naturally occurring gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Bioavailability is almost complete by injection. Goserelin is poorly protein-bound and has a serum elimination half-life of two to four hours in patients with normal renal function. The half-life increases with patients with impaired renal function. There is no significant change in pharmacokinetics in subjects with liver failure. After administration, peak serum concentrations are reached in about two hours. It rapidly binds to the GnRH receptor cells in the pituitary gland thus leading to an initial increase in production of luteinizing hormone and thus leading to an initial increase in the production of corresponding sex hormones. This initial flare may be treated by co-prescribing/co-administering an androgen receptor antagonist such as bicalutamide (Casodex). Eventually, after a period of about 14–21 days, production of LH is greatly reduced due to receptor downregulation, and sex hormones are generally reduced to castrate levels.[10]
Goserelin is the generic name of the drug and its INNTooltip International Nonproprietary Name, USANTooltip United States Adopted Name, and BANTooltip British Approved Name.
^World Health Organization (2021). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 22nd list (2021). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/345533. WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2021.02.
^Dittrich R, Binder H, Cupisti S, Hoffmann I, Beckmann MW, Mueller A (December 2005). "Endocrine treatment of male-to-female transsexuals using gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist". Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes. 113 (10): 586–92. doi:10.1055/s-2005-865900. PMID16320157.
^Di Lorenzo G, Autorino R, Perdonà S, De Placido S (December 2005). "Management of gynaecomastia in patients with prostate cancer: a systematic review". The Lancet. Oncology. 6 (12): 972–979. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(05)70464-2. PMID16321765.
^Newton CR, Yuzpe AA, Timmon IS, Slota MD (October 1993). Memory complaints: a side effect of continued exposure to gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa). Conjoint Annual Meetings of the American Fertility Society and the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society. Montreal, Canada.
^Friedman AJ, Juneau-Norcross M, Rein MS (February 1993). "Adverse effects of leuprolide acetate depot treatment". Fertility and Sterility. 59 (2): 448–50. doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(16)55701-x. PMID8425646.