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The dihydrotestosterone (DHT) hypothesis of prostate cancer and its therapeutic implications
Author(s) -
Petrow Viadimir
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/pros.2990090405
Subject(s) - dihydrotestosterone , prostate cancer , medicine , prostate , testosterone (patch) , finasteride , ablative case , androgen , prostatic adenocarcinoma , urology , adenocarcinoma , cancer , oncology , endocrinology , hormone , radiation therapy
Data are presented showing that human prostatic adenocarcinoma depends on dihydrotestos‐terone (DHT) and not testosterone (T) for growth. It follows that androgen ablative therapy should be directed toward elimination of DHT with retention of circulating T. This can be achieved by using a 5α‐reductase inhibitor such as 6–methyleneprogesterone (6–MP) (VII). Arguments are presented showing that 6–MP (VII) is expected 1) to function as a prophylactic agent against prostate cancer, 2) to represent an attractive therapeutic modality for palliative treatment of the hormone‐responsive disease, and 3) to be compatible with other therapeutic modalities when very low prostatic levels of DHT should be within reach.