STEROID EXCRETION IN CANCEROUS AND NONCANCEROUS PERSONS I. THE 17-KETOSTEROIDS1

Abstract

Cancerous persons excrete significantly less 17-ketosteroids than do noncancerous persons. This effect is particularly noticeable in the digitonin-precipitable hydroxy-ketonic fraction. The malignancy may not be the direct causative factor. Noncancerous [male][male] excrete significantly greater amts. of 17-ketosteroids than do noncancerous [female][female]. This sex difference is apparently abolished in cancerous persons. Isoandrosterone is a normal constituent of human urines; it is present but in much smaller quantities as the sole constituent of the digitonin-precipitable hydroxy-ketonic fraction in pooled urines from cancerous persons. The question of artefact formation is discussed. Dehydroisoandrosterone cannot be isolated from urines of noncancerous [female][female]. The presence of this steroid and isoandrosterone in urine of noncancerous [male][male] is indicated. Androsterone-17 can be isolated from urine of noncancerous [female][female] and cancerous [male][male].