Objective: To assess whether the 'oestrogen effect' of vacuolation in treated prostatic cancer cells is seen after luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) analogue therapy.
Patients and methods: Eight patients with locally advanced prostate cancer were treated with the LHRH analogue, leuprorelin acetate. Biopsies taken pretreatment and after 3 months were assessed for the presence or absence of microscopic vacuolation.
Results: Seven out of eight patients had evidence of vacuolation induced or accentuated by treatment.
Conclusions: Recent research suggests that both stilboestrol and LHRH analogues have a direct cytotoxic effect on prostate cell lines in vitro, which appears to be supported by these findings. Vacuolation seems to be a normal consequence of treatment with LHRH analogues.