http://www.casodex.net/6096_29464_2_0_0.aspx
How the hell is that possible???????
MedWire News: Low serum levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are associated with decreased survival in prostate cancer patients, although the prognostic value of such levels at diagnosis is not clear, say Swedish scientists.
Previous studies have indicated that DHT, which is the primary intracellular androgen in the prostate, has an impact on the progression of prostate tumors, explain Anders Kjellman and colleagues from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.
To assess the relationship between serum DHT levels at prostate cancer diagnosis and survival, the team studied 65 patients diagnosed via screening between 1988 and 1989, following them up for a maximum of 15.3 years and a median of 12.8 years. Radioimmunoassay was used to determine DHT levels at diagnosis.
In all, there were 41 deaths during the follow-up period, and examination of the medical records of the deceased patients revealed that 17 deaths were due to prostate cancer. Median serum DHT levels at diagnosis were 0.67 ng/ml for the whole group, 0.54 ng/ml for patients who died of prostate cancer, 0.72 ng/ml in those that died of other causes, and 0.79 ng/ml in those that were alive at the end of follow-up.
Patients with a DHT level above the median had significantly better prostate cancer-specific survival times than those with lower DHT levels. In addition, univariate analysis demonstrated that each unit increase in DHT levels was associated with a reduction in mortality, at a hazard ratio of 0.14.
However, multivariate analysis that included prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels indicated that the association between DHT and prostate cancer-specific survival was not significant, at a hazard ratio of 0.18. Nevertheless, the multivariate model showed that DHT levels below the median were significantly associated with survival, at a hazard ratio of 0.23.
“This study provides evidence of an association between low DHT and decreased survival in prostate cancer patients,†the team writes in the journal European Urology.
“It remains unclear whether DHT at diagnosis has any prognostic value beyond that of PSA and PSA velocity.â€
They conclude: “PSA levels merely reflect tumor stage and grade, whereas DHT may play an etiological role in the progression of the tumor.â€
Eur Urol 2008; 53: 106–111
http://www.europeanurology.com/article/ ... 9/abstract
How the hell is that possible???????
MedWire News: Low serum levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are associated with decreased survival in prostate cancer patients, although the prognostic value of such levels at diagnosis is not clear, say Swedish scientists.
Previous studies have indicated that DHT, which is the primary intracellular androgen in the prostate, has an impact on the progression of prostate tumors, explain Anders Kjellman and colleagues from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.
To assess the relationship between serum DHT levels at prostate cancer diagnosis and survival, the team studied 65 patients diagnosed via screening between 1988 and 1989, following them up for a maximum of 15.3 years and a median of 12.8 years. Radioimmunoassay was used to determine DHT levels at diagnosis.
In all, there were 41 deaths during the follow-up period, and examination of the medical records of the deceased patients revealed that 17 deaths were due to prostate cancer. Median serum DHT levels at diagnosis were 0.67 ng/ml for the whole group, 0.54 ng/ml for patients who died of prostate cancer, 0.72 ng/ml in those that died of other causes, and 0.79 ng/ml in those that were alive at the end of follow-up.
Patients with a DHT level above the median had significantly better prostate cancer-specific survival times than those with lower DHT levels. In addition, univariate analysis demonstrated that each unit increase in DHT levels was associated with a reduction in mortality, at a hazard ratio of 0.14.
However, multivariate analysis that included prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels indicated that the association between DHT and prostate cancer-specific survival was not significant, at a hazard ratio of 0.18. Nevertheless, the multivariate model showed that DHT levels below the median were significantly associated with survival, at a hazard ratio of 0.23.
“This study provides evidence of an association between low DHT and decreased survival in prostate cancer patients,†the team writes in the journal European Urology.
“It remains unclear whether DHT at diagnosis has any prognostic value beyond that of PSA and PSA velocity.â€
They conclude: “PSA levels merely reflect tumor stage and grade, whereas DHT may play an etiological role in the progression of the tumor.â€
Eur Urol 2008; 53: 106–111
http://www.europeanurology.com/article/ ... 9/abstract
