[Predictive value of the determination of receptors in carcinoma of the prostate].

Abstract

The assay of hormone receptors in neoplastic tissues recognizes their sensitivity or autonomy with regard to the hormonal action. The hormone dependency of the activity of neoplastic tissues can be employed to select the cases having the highest probability to be benefited by the treatment with anti-hormones, castration or hypophysectomy, as in breast and prostatic cancers. Examining the case for prostatic cancer, the authors indicate that there is a good correlation between the predictive assay and the clinical evolution of the treated prostatic carcinoma employing the determination of cell receptors for 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by exchange at 15 degrees C with the synthetic steroid methyltrienolone. The electrophoretic determination of binding of DHT to cell receptor a 4 degree C is a much less efficacious procedure.