Early clinical trials in Mexico with analogs of
luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (
LH-RH) also known as
gonadotropin releasing hormone (
Gn-RH), were reviewed. Extensive clinical studies were carried out at IMSS with agonists of
LH-RH, both in men and woman. All subjects responded to
LH-RH agonists with a release of LH and FSH, but repeated administration of these analogs, initially aimed at stimulation of fertility (thought to stimulate fertility), was later shown to result in inhibition due to desensitization of pituitary gland and downregulation of
LH-RH receptors. Various clinical investigations with
LH-RH antagonists were also carried out. This included the first demonstration that LH-RHantagonists can suppress LH and FSH and sex
steroid secretion in men and women. Various studies in Mexico with early
LH-RH antagonists aimed at the development of new
contraceptive methods were reviewed. Modern
LH-RH antagonist
Cetrorelix was shown to be effective in men and women and useful in treatment of uterine
leiomyomas and
benign prostatic hyperplasia. Major oncological studies were also carried out with agonist D-Trp6-LH-RH and antagonist
Cetrorelix in men with
prostate cancer, which demonstrated therapeutic efficacy of both types of analogs. Some endocrine studies with early analogs of
somatostatin were also cited and a clinical trial with
somatostatin analog
vapreotide in patients with relapsed
prostate cancer was reviewed. All these studies played a major role in introducing analogs of
hypothalamic-releasing hormones into clinical medicine.