Metabolism of dehydroepiandrosterone by hormone dependent and hormone independent human breast carcinoma.

The metabolism of 7alpha-3H-dehydroepiandrosterone was studied in six human breast carcinomas in vitro. All mammary tumors transformed DHA to testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, 5alpha-androstane-3alpha, 17beta-diol and 5alpha-androstane-3,17-dione. Of the tumors investigated, three estrogen receptor-negative tumors converted DHA to estradiol and only one estrogen receptor-positive tumor produced estradiol from DHA. Observations on the relationship of androgen metabolism and hormone dependency are discussed.