title: Androgen metabolism and apocrine differentiation in human breast cancer.
abstract: Metabolism of (7 alpha-3H)testosterone has been measured in 111 human breast cancers and compared retrospectively with the degree of apocrine differentiation in the tumors. Cancers in which apocrine characteristics were a marked feature metabolized significantly more testosterone precursor than those in which apocrine features did not predominate. Higher metabolism was accounted for by increased conversion to 5 alpha-reduced products such as 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and 5 alpha-androstanediols.
mesh_terms: D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis; D001050:Apocrine Glands / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013545:Sweat Glands / Q000473:pathology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D013741:3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase