title: Characterization of Prostate Cancer in a Functional Eunuch.
abstract: Eunuchs rarely, if ever, develop prostate cancer (CaP). This article reports on a 62-year-old functional eunuch from prepubertal mumps orchitis who developed clinically localized CaP.
  
  
  
  Serum and CaP and benign prostate tissue androgen levels were measured using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay. The assay measures testosterone; dihydrotestosterone (DHT); the adrenal androgens, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone; and the androgen metabolites, androsterone and androstanedione. Gene and protein expression levels of androgen metabolism enzymes, and androgen receptor and androgen-regulated genes were measured using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively.
  
  
  
  Intracrine androgen metabolism produced tissue DHT when serum and tissue testosterone levels were castrate and undetectable, respectively. Androgen receptor, androgen-regulated, and androgen metabolism enzyme genes were expressed but at lower levels in CaP than benign tissues.
  
  
  
  DHT was synthesized using the primary backdoor androgen metabolism pathway and not using androstenedione or dehydroepiandrosterone via the frontdoor or secondary backdoor pathways.
authors: From the Departments of Urology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Pathology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York.
authors: John J
authors: JJ
authors: Stocking
authors: From the Departments of Urology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Pathology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York.
authors: Michael V
authors: MV
authors: Fiandalo
authors: From the Departments of Urology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Pathology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York.
authors: Elena A
authors: EA
authors: Pop
authors: From the Departments of Urology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Pathology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York.
authors: John H
authors: JH
authors: Wilton
authors: From the Departments of Urology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Pathology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York.
authors: Gissou
authors: G
authors: Azabdaftari
authors: From the Departments of Urology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Pathology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York.
authors: James L
authors: JL
authors: Mohler
mesh_terms: D005058:Eunuchism / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology