Plasma Testosterone: An Accurate Monitor of Hormone Treatment in Prostatic Cancer

Abstract

Summary Plasma testosterone has been estimated by radioimmunoassay in 109 patients with prostatic carcinoma and 18 men of similar age with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Stilboestrol 1 mg 3 times daily, Premarin 2.5 mg 3 times daily, Honvan 100 mg 3 times daily or ethinyloestradiol 0–05 mg twice daily are as effective as large doses of stilboestrol or as orchidectomy in producing a profound and sustained fall in plasma testosterone, but stilboestrol 1 mg daily is not uniformly effective. TACE has no measurable effect on the plasma testosterone. No rise in plasma testosterone is noted in relapse, but pituitary ablation by implantation of yttrium‐90 produces a fall in plasma testosterone greater than that achieved by oestrogens alone.