The relationship of serum dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate to subsequent cancer of the prostate.

Levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) in sera collected and frozen in 1974 were studied among 81 prostate cancer cases diagnosed in the following 12 years and 81 age- and race-matched controls. Although mean levels of DHEA were 11% lower among cases than controls and DHEA-S levels were 12% lower than among controls, no dose-response association was noted for either DHEA or DHEA-S. It seems unlikely that serum levels of DHEA or DHEA-S are important risk factors for prostate cancer.