Altered androgen metabolism in carcinoma of the prostate.

Testosterone metabolism was investigated in benign hypertrophied and malignant prostates using a tissue culture technique. The results demonstrated a distinct difference between the two types of tumour. The benign tissue was found to metabolize testosterone via a reductive pathway. The main radiometabolites were found to be dihydrotestosterone and androstanediols. On the other hand, the malignant tumours showed less ability to metabolize testosterone and the metabolism by these tumours was found to be an oxidative one, with the main metabolite being androstenedione.