Premium
Relationship of testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, and calculated free testosterone to subsequent clinical progress in patients with carcinoma of the prostate treated with bilateral orchidectomy or estrogens
Author(s) -
Levell M. J.,
Siddall J. K.,
Rowe E.,
Glashan R. W.,
Robinson M. R. G.,
Pidcock N. B.
Publication year - 1987
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.2990110103
Subject(s) - testosterone (patch) , sex hormone binding globulin , medicine , endocrinology , estrogen , prostate , prostate cancer , androgen , free testosterone , hormone , urology , cancer
The concentration in serum of testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and albumin has been measured, and from these measurements free testosterone has been calculated in 75 patients with carcinoma of the prostate treated with either bilateral orchidectomy, stilbestrol, or estramustine phosphate (Estracyt). After exclusion of 3 noncompliant patients, total testosterone did not differ significantly between treatments, but free testosterone was lower in estrogen‐treated patients (5.9 ± 0.9 (SEM) pmol/l, n = 28) compared with the orchidectomized patients (23 ± 1.4 pmol/l, n = 44) (P< 0.001); all of the estrogen‐treated patients falling in the lower third of the range of the orchidectomized patients. Free testosterone did not change systematically during several years of treatment and there was no evidence of a rise with clinical deterioration. In the 33 patients with metastatic cancer treated with orchidectomy, the third with the lowest free testosterone or total testosterone showed a better survival over 2 years than the two‐thirds with higher free or total testosterone; thereafter, the advantage was lost.