Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0376358 (prostate cancer)
 59,338 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The indications for and the results of hypophysectomy for advanced cancer of the breast or prostate gland are reviewed. The technic of open microsurgical transsphenoidal hypophysectomy is described. Since the metabolism of some breast cancers is influenced by estrogenic hormones, the major effect of hypophysectomy seems to be the complete suppression of estrogen production by the gonads and adrenal glands by removal of gonadotropin and ACTH, respectively. Other specific substances, such as growth hormone or prolactin, may also be factors. In cases of prostate cancer which relapse after castration, the adrenals seem to elaborate a significant amount of extradgonadal androgen. Hypophysectomy removes the source of ATCH and thus stops androgen production by the adrenal glands. Other hormones may also be important. In premenopausal patients with advancing cancer of the breast, oophorectomy should be the initial procedure. Most patients after a previous favorable response to oophorectomy get a subsequent objective improvement from hypophysectomy. In postmenopausal patients the effects of hormone therapy should 1st be tried. Many patients responding favorably to hormone therapy will also be benefited later by hypophysectomy. Remission rates are higher in older women. However, hypophysectomy should be carried out relatively early to obtain a useful remission. About 25% of those not responding to other methods will obtain a remission following hypophysectomy. Along interval after the mastectomy before metastases occurs is a favorable prognostic sign. While bony metastases respond best, other sites of metastases do not contraindicate the operation. Most patients with prostatic metastases obtain relief after hypophysectomy, even some of those who have not been benefited by other methods. Advanced age alone is not a contraindication. A preoperative evaluation should be done including a series of endocrine studies. Open microsurgical transsphenoidal hypophysectomy is considered the operation of choice. Complete removal of the gland is accomplished with less disturbance to the patient than an intracranial operation. General anesthesia is used. After the operation tests for pituitary reserve are repeated and a maintenance regimen of hydrocortisone prescribed. Thyroid replacement therapy is often needed. Subjective remissions are more common than objective ones, particularly relief of pain. This operation was done on 20 men with metastatic cancer of the prostate and 23 women and 1 man with metastatic cancer of the breast. Of the prostate cases, 3 patients died during the early postoperative period. Of the other 17, there have been 7 deaths from the cancers after 1-7 months. Of the 23 breast cases, severe body pain was the indication for the operation. Relief occurred in 19 (83%). There have been 7 deaths from the cancers. Hypophysectomy does not predispose to or lead to alterations in emotional state or mental function. Others with larger series of cases have reported that those responding favorably have lived an average of 25.8 months while average survival of those not so responding has been only 5.6 months.
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PMID:Hypophysectomy in the treatment of disseminated carcinoma of the breast and prostate gland. 127 14

Basal serum levels and ACTH-induced increments ('delta-values') of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) and its sulfate (DHAS), 4-androstene-3,17-dione (A-4), 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), cortisol and testosterone and serum albumin levels were studied in patients with prostatic cancer before treatment and after orchidectomy or during estrogen treatment (intramuscular polyestradiol phosphate during the first 3 months, followed by another 3 months with additional oral ethinyl estradiol). Orchidectomy as well as single drug intramuscular or oral + intramuscular estrogens exerted a similar suppressive effect on basal levels of A-4 and 17-OHP. Orchidectomy caused a slight decrease in basal DHAS, while combined oral + intramuscular estrogens caused a pronounced decrease in basal DHAS and also in DHA. Single drug intramuscular estrogens did not affect basal DHA or DHAS levels. Increased basal cortisol levels appeared during combined oral + intramuscular estrogen therapy. delta DHA and delta A-4 values were unaffected by endocrine treatment, but delta 17-OHP and delta cortisol increased slightly after orchidectomy and during estrogen therapy. Significantly decreased albumin levels were only observed during combined oral + intramuscular estrogen treatment. Determination of estriol, which is a major metabolite of estradiol originating from polyestradiol phosphate, revealed significantly higher estriol levels during combined oral + intramuscular estrogen treatment than during single drug intramuscular estrogen therapy, indicating an increased induction of hepatic 16 alpha-hydroxylase activity. The pronounced decreases in DHAS and also in DHA during combined oral + intramuscular estrogen treatment are probably another reflexion of the liver side effects of oral estrogens.
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PMID:Adrenocortical function in prostatic cancer patients: effects of orchidectomy or different modes of estrogen treatment on basal steroid levels and on the response to exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone. 216 78

The antiandrogen cyproterone acetate (CA), as well as oestrogens have been reported to influence pituitary-adrenal function in prostate cancer patients, but the clinical relevance of these findings is unknown. We therefore investigated serum cortisol (F), dehydro-epiandrosterone sulphate (DS), testosterone (T) and prolactin (Prl) levels in patients treated with CA or oestradiol undecylate for at least 6 months. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function was further assessed by analysis of diurnal hormone variation and by ACTH stimulation and dexamethasone suppression tests. To differentiate between direct CA or oestrogen effects and secondary effects resulting from therapy-induced hypogonadism, we performed similar tests in untreated normogonadal and hypogonadal patients. CA treatment effected a significant decrease in serum F (-40%), DS (-73%) and T (-58%) levels and an increase in serum Prl (+118%). Oestrogen treatment resulted in markedly lowered T levels (-89%), slightly elevated serum F (+24%) and significantly increased serum Prl (+192%). Corresponding changes of F, DS and Prl could not be found in the untreated hypogonadal controls, thus indicating a direct drug-related effect. Neither diurnal rhythmicity of serum F nor adrenal response to ACTH stimulation or sensitivity to dexamethasone suppression significantly changed under CA or oestrogen treatment. We conclude that, although serum F levels may decrease under CA or increase slightly under oestrogen therapy for prostate carcinoma, these findings do not justify specific treatment, since neither clinical side effects nor an impairment of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal feedback occurs.
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PMID:Effect of oestrogen or cyproterone acetate treatment on adrenocortical function in prostate carcinoma patients. 242 11

The xenograft line, UCRU-PR-2, has been characterized further. Established from a primary human undifferentiated small cell carcinoma of the prostate, it has been maintained as a stable xenograft line in nude mice and is currently in passage 9. The tumor has maintained the features of small cell undifferentiated carcinoma but shows epithelial as well as neuroendocrine characteristics. In this paper, we describe synthesis and secretion of peptide hormones, ACTH, beta-endorphin and somatostatin in vivo and ACTH and beta-endorphin in vitro by the tumor, UCRU-PR-2. This suggests that the gene for proopiomelanocortin is expressed and that processing of the molecule occurs. This line may yield insights into the histogenesis of the subtypes of prostate cancer, and also aid studies of regulation of ectopic hormone production.
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PMID:Ectopic hormone production by a prostatic small cell carcinoma xenograft line. 283 15

The effect of flutamide on basal and ACTH-stimulated plasma levels of adrenal androgens was investigated in 6 patients with untreated advanced prostate cancer, aged 52-75 yr. Flutamide was administered (250 mg three times daily) for 10 days; before and after treatment, a synthetic ACTH1-24 stimulation test (250 micrograms im, with blood sampling immediately before and 60 min after the stimulus) was performed. Basal plasma 17OH-pregnenolone (delta 5-17OHP), 170H-progesterone (delta 4-17OHP), androstenedione (A), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphate (DHEAS) were unchanged by flutamide treatment. In contrast, basal plasma testosterone (T) concentrations significantly increased (p less than 0.05). The response of cortisol delta 4-17OHP, delta 5-17OHP, A and DHEA to ACTH, as well as the ACTH-stimulated delta 5-17OHP/delta 4-17OHP, delta 5-17OHP/DHEA, delta 4-17OHP/A and DHEA/A ratios, were unchanged by flutamide treatment. These findings indicate that: a) Short-term flutamide administration enhances testicular steroidogenesis, via augmented LH pulse frequency; b) Adrenal steroidogenesis seems to be not affected by the drug, since ACTH-stimulated plasma levels of adrenal androgens and precursors/products ratios were unchanged.
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PMID:The effect of flutamide on basal and ACTH-stimulated plasma levels of adrenal androgens in patients with advanced prostate cancer. 285 89

The last few years have seen the isolation, characterization and synthesis of two new hypothalamic peptides, the growth-hormone releasing factor (GRF) and the corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF). GRF selectively stimulates pituitary growth hormone. It is interesting to note that GRF was isolated from two pancreatic tumors which were responsible for an acromegalic condition in the two patients. Hypothalamic GRF (1-44) has been found to be identical to this pancreatic GRF. CRF was isolated first from ovine hypothalamus and later characterized in several species and in the human. CRF specifically stimulates the secretion of ACTH and of beta-endorphins, and other fragments of the common precursor named pro-opiomelanocortin. Chemical synthesis of analogues of hypothalamic peptides, and in particular of GnRH (gonadotrophin-releasing hormone), has made available new molecules which form agonists as well as antagonists. After a short period of gonadotrophin stimulation GnRH agonists induce desensitization of the pituitary and a decrease in secretion of the gonadotrophins and the sex steroids by the gonads. Their usefulness is presently being tested in several conditions such as prostate cancer, endometriosis, breast cancer and idiopathic precocious puberty, and as a contraceptive method. On the other hand, pulsatile administration of GnRH restores deficient reproductive functions in certain conditions such as anovulation or azoospermia.
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PMID:[Hypothalamic factors: current findings]. 300 38

The effects of high-dose ketoconazole (i.e. 400 mg every 8 h) therapy on adrenal steroidogenesis were investigated in 7 patients with advanced prostatic cancer who no longer responded to orchiectomy. An ACTH challenge was performed before and on days 14 and 28 of high-dose ketoconazole treatment. During the last 14 days, dexamethasone (0.5 mg twice daily) was administered together with ketoconazole. High-dose ketoconazole alone lowered the basal levels of the androgens by 49-66%. It almost completely inhibited their stimulation by ACTH, whereas plasma progesterone was doubled. Basal cortisol was only slightly lowered, but the response to ACTH stimulation was markedly blunted. Basal and stimulated plasma aldosterone remained unaffected. Both basal and stimulated 11-deoxycortisol, 11-deoxycorticosterone, and, to a lesser extent, corticosterone rose more markedly after ketoconazole than after placebo. The basal and stimulated plasma adrenal androgen levels were further reduced after combined ketoconazole-dexamethasone treatment, whereas plasma corticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, and 11-deoxycorticosterone were lowered in the same way as cortisol. Aldosterone and progesterone profiles were similar to those observed under high-dose ketoconazole, but plasma 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone increased more markedly than after high-dose ketoconazole alone. These results demonstrate that high-dose ketoconazole lowers plasma androgen levels in orchiectomized patients and partly inhibits the gluco- and mineralocorticoid syntheses, especially after ACTH-stimulation. The addition of dexamethasone does not only correct the possible consequence of the impairment of the cortisol production by high-dose ketoconazole, but it further reduces the androgen levels and lowers the plasma concentrations of most precursors, for instance 11-deoxycorticosterone, which has some physiological mineralocorticoid activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Effects of high-dose ketoconazole and dexamethasone on ACTH-stimulated adrenal steroidogenesis in orchiectomized prostatic cancer patients. 303 35

The basal plasma levels of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S), and testosterone were studied in 20 patients with advanced prostatic cancer receiving combined treatment with an LHRH agonist and an antiandrogen [5,5-dimethyl-3-[4-nitro-3-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]-2 4-imidazolidinedione]. After 60 days of combined antihormonal therapy, plasma levels of testosterone decreased from 5.44 +/- 0.44 (SEM) to 0.136 +/- 0.052 ng/ml (2.5% of control). Somewhat unexpectedly, the plasma concentrations of the adrenal androgens DHEA and DHEA-S were reduced to 45 +/- 7 and 64 +/- 4% of control, respectively. The maximal reduction in plasma adrenal androgen levels occurred between 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. Whereas the increase in serum cortisol, 17-hydroxypregnenolone, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone concentrations 2 1/2 h after the injection of 0.25 mg human ACTH 1-24 was not affected by the combined treatment, the increment of DHEA and androstenedione after the same stimulus was reduced from 3.1 +/- 0.98 and 0.73 +/- 0.11 to 1.48 +/- 0.5 and 0.31 +/- 0.05 ng/ml, respectively. The reduced levels of serum DHEA and DHEA-S were not due to the LHRH agonist by itself, since similarly low levels of serum DHEA and DHEA-S were found in patients surgically castrated and receiving the same antiandrogen. These data suggest that treatment with an antiandrogen in castrated men inhibit the formation of adrenal androgens due to a blockade at the level of 17, 20-desmolase. The efficiency of the new combined antihormonal therapy (castration and antiandrogen) aimed at complete androgen neutralization in prostate cancer is thus further facilitated.
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PMID:Inhibition of basal and adrenocorticotropin-stimulated plasma levels of adrenal androgens after treatment with an antiandrogen in castrated patients with prostatic cancer. 608 97

We have investigated the effects of chronic administration of D-Trp6-LH-RH on the growth of various hormone dependent tumors in rats and mice. Treatment of male Copenhagen F-1 rats bearing the Dunning R-3327H prostate adenocarcinoma with 25 micrograms of D-Trp6-LH-RH bid for 21 days significantly reduced tumor weight and volume as compared to controls. Serum LH, prolactin and testosterone levels in Copenhagen F-1 rats bearing Dunning tumors were significantly decreased after treatment with D-Trp6-LH-RH. Administration of D-Trp6-LH-RH in doses of 25 micrograms/day for 21 days to mice bearing the MXT mammary carcinoma significantly decreased tumor weight and volume. In rats bearing the MT/W9A mammary adenocarcinoma, D-Trp6-LH-RH, at a dose of 25 micrograms bid for 28 days significantly decreased tumor weight and volume. Administration of D-Trp6-LH-RH in a dose of 25 micrograms/day, 3-18 days after inoculation with the tumor, inhibited the growth of the prolactin (PRL) and ACTH-secreting pituitary tumor 7315a in female Buffalo rats. In three experiments D-Trp6-LH-RH (30-60 micrograms/day) decreased tumor weight and/or volume of the Swarm chondrosarcoma. Regression of these hormone-dependent tumors in rats and mice in response to chronic administration of D-Trp6-LH-RH suggests that this compound can be used for treatment of prostate cancer and breast cancer, and also considered for the development of a new endocrine therapy for chondrosarcomas, osteosarcomas, pituitary tumors and other hormone-dependent neoplasias. The demonstration of the successful use of LH-RH agonists for the palliative management of stage C and D prostate cancer has already shown that this treatment could be employed instead of surgical orchiectomy or estrogen therapy. Preliminary clinical trials suggest that agonists of LH-RH might also be of help in the treatment of breast cancer in premenopausal women.
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PMID:Inhibition of the growth of some hormone dependent tumors by D-Trp6-LH-RH. 624 77

Prostate cancer with marked neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation belongs to the hormone resistant carcinomas. We report the development of TSH-secreting small cell prostate cancer (SCPC) from high grade adenocarcinoma (Gleason score 8) with an elevated number of chromogranin A positive cells located in benign structures adjacent to the cancer. Conversion to SCPC was followed-up during 4 years. The initial adenocarcinoma exerted a stronger positivity for PAP than for PSA (respective staining indexes, Sls, 2.2 and 1.8, maximum staining 3.0). In the developed SCPC, 2 cell subpopulations that were derived from epithelial cells were found (positive stain for EMA and CEA, respectively) and from one of them originated CEA-positive liver metastases. Blood CEA and NSE levels were elevated in SCPC (284 ng/ml and 24.5 ng/ml). However, blood TPS level which reflects proliferation of epithelial cells was within the normal range. The development of a << pure >> sarcomatoid prostatic tumor from adenocarcinoma with 2 areas of similar differentiation grades (Gleason score 7 and 9-10) that initially differ in staining for PSA and PAP (SIs for PSA were 1.2 and 0.02 and for PAP were 1.6 and 0.02, respectively) was followed-up during 4 years of treatment with Estracyt. Adenocarcinoma tissue specimens was slightly CEA-positive. The disappearance of lower grade adenocarcinoma during treatment was accompanied by the development of sarcomatoid areas that were 100% vimentin positive. In the last year of follow-up the primary tumor was composed only of vimentin positive sarcomatoid cells with a slight positivity for Chromogranin A, NSE and ACTH. In parallel, normal serum PSA and PAP values and elevated CEA and NSE serotests (12.6 ng/ml and 24.7 ng/ml, respectively) were found. Blood TPS level was at the upper limit of the normal range. Scintigraphy revealed extensive liver metastases. The recorded data indicate (i) extremely poor prognoses associated with high grade adenocarcinomas that demonstrate stronger immunohistochemical positivity for PAP than that for PSA (ii), chromogranin A positive cells in benign structures adjacent to the cancer as a possible paracrine promoter of SCPC from poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and (iii) a high degree of heterogeneity of both SCPC and sarcomatoid prostatic neoplasms with some evidence for definite links (EMA and CEA) to secretory epithelial cells.
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PMID:Immunohistochemical staining and serotest markers during development of a sarcomatoid and small cell prostate tumor. 784 May 15


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