title: Steroidogenic expression of delta 5-3 beta-hydroxy pathway of androgen biosynthesis by human breast carcinoma.
abstract: In order to determine whether human mammary tumours could contribute to cholesterol and dehydroepiandrosterone biosynthesis in breast cancer patients, incubations of homogenates of infiltrating ductal carcinoma were carried out separately with 2-14C acetate (patient, n = 6; 21-80 years) and 7n-3H pregnenolone (patient, n = 5, 36-74 years) as substrates. With the aid of the reverse-isotope dilution technique, 14C cholesterol and 3H dehydroepiandrosterone were characterized; these two gave maximum yields of 2.38 X 10(-4)% and 9.42 X 10(-2)% respectively. These results indicate that there exists a potential for the synthesis of cholesterol and dehydroepiandrosterone in vivo. It is suggested that the biosynthetic pathway involved in the synthesis of the latter is; acetyl CoA----cholesterol----pregnenolone----17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone----dehydroepiandrosterone.
mesh_terms: D006907:17-alpha-Hydroxypregnenolone / Q000378:metabolism; D000105:Acetyl Coenzyme A / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D006907:17-alpha-Hydroxypregnenolone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D000105:Acetyl Coenzyme A; D011284:Pregnenolone; D002784:Cholesterol