ANALYSIS OF URINARY METABOLITES OF ESTRADIOL-4-C14. I. IN HUMAN MAMMARY CARCINOMA*

Abstract

A method is described whereby detailed information on the metabolism of an administered dose of estradiol-4-C14 is obtained. The method involves gradient elution chromatography on silica gel followed by paper chromatography. Among the metabolites determined are: estrone, estradiol, estriol, 2-methoxyestrone, 16-ketoestrone, 16-epiestriol, 17-epiestriol, and a mixture of ketols. Excretion of these metabolites in a postmenopausal woman with carcinoma of the breast has been expressed in terms of several parameters. These include: (1) the percentage of daily neutral and phenolic fractions, (2) the percentage of total radioactivity excreted daily, (3) the percentage of the injected dose excreted daily, and (4) the cumulative percentage of the injected dose excreted during the collection period. In addition, the ratios of various metabolites have been calculated.