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Cancer of the Prostate and Kidney pp 317–328Cite as

Estrogens in the Treatment of Prostatic Cancer

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Part of the book series: NATO Advanced Science Institutes Series ((NSSA,volume 53))

Abstract

Treatment with estrogens is the most commonly used modality for the management of advanced prostatic carcinoma (PCA). Their major mode of action is thought to be by the suppression of Lutenising Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) release from the pituitary to control the output of testosterone (1). Only chloro-trianisene (Tace) does not exert an antigonadotrophic action. The decrease of plasma testosterone and testicular atrophy result primarily from the central gonadotrophin suppression; however, a direct inhibition of testosterone synthesis is also involved (2) (Table 1). There is evidence that estrogens inhibit the testicular

Table 1 Estrogen* Inhibition of Androgen Synthesis
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Table 2 Testosterone Levels (ng/dl) in PCA After Treatment With Orchiectomy and Estrogens
Full size table

3 β -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, thus blocking the degradation of pregnenolone, one step in the formation of testosterone in vivo (3). Since steroidogenesis inhibition requires a high dose of estrogen, this mechanism may only be operative with chlorotrianisene.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Ulm, Ulm, West Germany

    J. Altwein

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  1. University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    M. Pavone-Macaluso

  2. St. James’s University Hospital, Leeds, England

    P. H. Smith

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Altwein, J. (1983). Estrogens in the Treatment of Prostatic Cancer. In: Pavone-Macaluso, M., Smith, P.H. (eds) Cancer of the Prostate and Kidney. NATO Advanced Science Institutes Series, vol 53. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4349-3_39

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4349-3_39

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