Peptide Graded

Goserelin

Does Goserelin work?

Yes, in large controlled trials; one covered 1,640 women.

AStrong human evidenceFDA approvedas of 2026-10-26

Goserelin's approvals rest on randomised trials in prostate and breast cancer and endometriosis. The cited ZEBRA trial randomised 1,640 premenopausal women with node-positive early breast cancer to goserelin or CMF chemotherapy and found equivalent disease-free and overall survival in those with hormone-receptor-positive tumours. 12

The ZEBRA trial compared two years of goserelin with six cycles of CMF chemotherapy. It enrolled 1,640 women before menopause who had early breast cancer in the lymph nodes (node-positive). Its survival results came out in 2003. Women whose tumours had oestrogen receptors did equally well on either treatment, for both disease-free and overall survival. Women whose tumours lacked those receptors did worse on goserelin. This is expected with a hormone treatment. The drug caused menopausal symptoms. Chemotherapy caused nausea, hair loss and infections. 1

The prostate cancer approvals rest on two kinds of trials. Some showed that testosterone fell as far as after surgical castration. One tested goserelin plus flutamide with radiotherapy, in locally advanced disease. The approved uses for endometriosis and endometrial thinning rest on randomised trials. They showed symptom relief. They also showed a thinner uterine lining. 2

Evidence checklist

  • Randomised controlled trial ZEBRA, goserelin versus CMF
  • Human study over 100 people ZEBRA randomized 1,640 women
  • More than one research group Trials across prostate, breast, endometriosis
  • Clinical outcomes, not surrogate markers Disease-free and overall survival
  • Human safety data beyond case reports Decades of label and trial data

Read the full Goserelin page

More on Goserelin

Citations

  1. Kaufmann 2003, European Journal of Cancer: survival analyses from the ZEBRA study, goserelin versus CMF in premenopausal node-positive breast cancer doi.org
  2. FDA 2026: Zoladex (goserelin implant) prescribing information accessdata.fda.gov

Reference information only, not medical advice. Drawn from the Goserelin article, fact-checked against the cited sources. No dosing anywhere on this site.