Studies on Prostatic Cancer. V. Excretion of 17-Ketosteroids, Estrogens and Gonadotropins before and after Castration1

Abstract

Urinary levels of 17-ketosteroids, estrogens and gonadotrophins are described for a series of patients with prostatic cancer both before and after castration. Before castration, the level of 17-ketosteroids in a series of 10 patients averaged 7.62 mg. per 24 hrs. This level was well below that for normal [male][male] of a younger age, but very close to levels reported for normal, aging [male][male] and a series of 10 castrates reported by Callow. Betaketosteroids represented approx. 10% of the total 17-ketosteroid excreted. Castration led first to a fall in 17-ketosteroids followed by a rise. The duration of this rise was not detd. but probably did not exceed 1 yr. Beta-ketosteroids did not account for this increase because after castration this fraction fell. Before castration, estrogen excretion was low, averaging 12-13 I.U. per 24 hrs. Castration led to a decrease in excretion in 4 of 6 patients studied. However, high postcastrational values have been observed. Castration led to a moderate rise in gonadotrophin excretion, slight compared to values reported for younger castrates. Clinical signs and symptoms of so-called "primary gonadal insufficiency" occur with only moderate changes in the urinary excretion of the hormones studied. The observations substantiate the conclusion of Bringel that a demonstration of the sex hormones in the urine cannot be regarded as evidence of the functional capacity of the gonads.