Biosynthesis and metabolism of androgenic hormones in cancer of the prostate.

The conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate into testosterone, delta4-androstenedione, and dihydrotestosterone has been measured in minced prostatic adenocarcinoma tissue from three untreated patients, two patients treated with diethylstilbestrol, and one treated with cyproterone acetate. The results obtained show that in both treated and untreated patients the dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate is actively transformed into dehydroepiandrosterone. The subsequent conversion into testosterone and dihydrotestosterone is less evident and inconstant in untreated patients and is inhibited in patients treated with diethylstilbestrol or cyproterone acetate. No formation of delta4-androstenedione was demonstrated in either treated or untreated patients.