Home > Encyclopedia of Cancer > Leuprolide Acetate

Definition

Leuprolide acetate is a synthetic (man-made) hormone that acts similarly to the naturally occurring gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). It is available under the tradename Lupron.

Purpose

Leuprolide acetate is used primarily to counter the symptoms of advanced prostate cancer in men when surgery to remove the testes or estrogen therapy is not an option or is unacceptable to the patient. It is often used to ease the pain and discomfort of women suffering from endometrosis, advanced breast cancer, or advanced ovarian cancer.

Two less common uses...