title: Effects of low testosterone levels and of adrenal androgens on growth of prostate tumor models in nude mice.
abstract: Two transplantable, androgen dependent prostate tumor models of human origin, PC-82 and PC-EW, were used to study the effect of low androgen levels and adrenal androgens on prostate tumor cell proliferation. Tumor load of the PC-82 and PC-EW tumors could be maintained constant when plasma testosterone levels were 0.8 and 0.9 nmol/l, respectively, corresponding with an intratissue 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone level of 3-4 pmol/g tissue. This critical androgen level for prostate tumor growth stimulation amounted to 2-3 times the castration level and proved to be similar for both tumor models. Relatively high levels of androstenedione resulted in physiological levels of plasma testosterone causing androgen concentrations in PC-82 tumor tissue exceeding the critical level for tumor growth. These results indicate that submaximal suppression of androgens can stop tumor growth in these prostate tumor models.
authors: Department of Urology, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: W M
authors: WM
authors: van Weerden
authors: G J
authors: GJ
authors: van Steenbrugge
authors: A
authors: A
authors: van Kreuningen
authors: E P
authors: EP
authors: Moerings
authors: F H
authors: FH
authors: De Jong
authors: F H
authors: FH
authors: Schröder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone