INTRODUCTION: We investigated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of 
long-term prostate cancer patients who received leuprorelin acetate in 
microcapsules (LAM) for androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT).
METHODS: The observational study was carried out by 30 office-based German 
urologists in 536 prostate cancer (PCa) patients treated for ≥5 years with LAM 
and in 116 patients of an age-matched control group (CG). Data on HRQoL and 
health status was collected prospectively using validated questionnaires 
QLQ-C30, QLQ-PR25 and Karnofsky Index. Data on effectiveness (clinical response, 
prostate specific antigen [PSA], testosterone) and safety was collected 
retrospectively from patients' health records. We used descriptive statistics to 
analyze the data.
RESULTS: The mean treatment duration was 8.6 years (range 4.5-19.8 years). 
General health status (QLQ-C30) was comparable for both groups. Differences were 
observed regarding physical - and role functioning. ADT patients rated single 
items slightly worse than CG. Karnofsky-Index showed comparable high values 
(median of 90%). QLQ-PR25 revealed more PCa-related symptoms for ADT patients. 
Within 6 months, median PSA level declined >90% and median testosterone levels 
declined below castration level from 4.0 to 0.2 ng/mL. Clinical response 
(European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer criteria) was 
observed in at least 90% of ADT patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Long-term ADT with LAM is a well-accepted, tolerated, effective, 
and low-burden treatment option for patients with advanced, hormone-sensitive 
PCa.