The chemical structure of leuprolide acetate from: National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Database. 53714-56-0, Source=KEGG, SID=96024803, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/substance/96024803 (accessed on Mar. 8, 2020).
Currently leuprolide is used to treat prostate cancers but research is being done into treatment for other cancers (National Institute of Health, (USA)). It works predominantly in the testes to prevent the synthesis of testosterone (National Institute of Health, (USA)). It does this by blocking the hormones used to create it (National Institute of Health, (USA)). It is classed as a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and can come under several names e.g. Eligard, Lupron (Depot) (National Institute of Health, (USA)). Its mechanism of action is to bind to gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors and elicit a response (National Institute of Health, (USA)). Hence why it is referred to as an agonist (National Institute of Health, (USA)). This prevents the secretion of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone to decrease testosterone levels (National Institute of Health, (USA)). In females it inhibits the production of estradiol after long-term exposure (National Institute of Health, (USA)).
References: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH, (USA). NCI Drug Dictionary: leuprolide acetate Available from:https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug/def/leuprolide-acetate.