title: Serum testosterone:dihydrotestosterone ratio and CA 19-9 in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
abstract: The testosterone:dihydrotestosterone ratio (T:DHT) and the antigenic marker CA 19-9 were studied in the serum of 21 male patients with pancreatic cancer and 62 controls with other gastrointestinal malignancies or benign pancreatobiliary disease. Specificity of the T:DHT ratio was 98%, significantly better than the specificity of CA 19-9 at both a 37 U/ml cutoff level (61%) and at 100 U/ml (79%). Sensitivity of the T:DHT ratio was 67%, and that of CA 19-9, 71% and 90% at the upper and lower cutoff levels, respectively. False-negative results of the T:DHT ratio were found predominantly in cases of advanced pancreatic cancer, whereas all four stage I patients had an abnormal (less than 5) T:DHT ratio. These results suggest that the T:DHT ratio is a useful marker for pancreatic cancer in males. It can be used alone or in combination with CA 19-9, and should be further evaluated in the differential diagnosis of patients with the early stages of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Pancreas Clinic, Instituto Nacional de La Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Robles-Díaz
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Díaz-Sánchez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández-del Castillo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aceves
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galván
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altamirano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000097:blood*; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000097:blood*; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone