Abstract
Serum testosterone, its metabolite 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, and the testosterone/dihydrotestosterone ratio were investigated in 22 male patients with proven pancreatic cancer, and compared with values from male patients with chronic pancreatitis (n = 21) and with nonpancreatic gastrointestinal tumors (n = 19). Testosterone and the testosterone/dihydrotestosterone ratio were significantly lower (p less than 0.001) in the pancreatic cancer group when they were compared with the other two groups. There was no significant difference in the dihydrotestosterone values between cancer groups. A testosterone/dihydrotestosterone ratio of less than 5 clearly distinguished most of the patients (20/22) with cancer of the pancreas from those with other tumors or chronic pancreatitis. The results suggest an alteration in the serum androgen profile in these patients. Therefore, the testosterone/dihydrotestosterone ratio could be a useful marker in the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma in male patients.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
