The combination of antagonists of LHRH with antagonists of GHRH improves inhibition of androgen sensitive MDA-PCa-2b and LuCaP-35 prostate cancers.

BACKGROUND: Antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) could extend the duration of response of androgen sensitive prostate cancers to androgen deprivation. METHODS: We investigated the effect of new GHRH antagonists MZ-J-7-118 and MZ-J-7-138 and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) antagonist Cetrorelix or castration on androgen sensitive MDA-PCa-2b and LuCaP-35 prostate cancer models xenografted into nude mice. Animals bearing androgen-independent LuCaP-35V prostatic cancer model were also treated with MZ-J-7-118. RESULTS: Receptors for LHRH and GHRH were present in MDA-PCA-2b, LuCaP-35, and LuCaP-35V tumors. GHRH antagonists increased the inhibitory effect of surgical castration and LHRH antagonists on androgen sensitive MDA-PCa-2b and LuCaP-35 tumors. The time to relapse of androgen-dependent LuCaP-35 tumors was extended by GHRH antagonists. Growth of androgen-independent LuCaP-35V xenografts was also significantly inhibited by MZ-J-7-118. In MDA-PCa-2b tumors treatment with MZ-J-7-118 caused a significant decrease of VEGF and Cetrorelix or its combination with MZ-J-7-118 reduced EGF. The B(max) of EGF receptors was significantly reduced by Cetrorelix, MZ-J-7-118 and their combination. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the use of a combination of antagonists of GHRH and LHRH could improve the therapy for androgen sensitive prostate cancer. Antagonists of GHRH could be also considered for treatment of androgen-independent prostate cancers.