Preponderance of serum and intra-hepatic 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone in males with hepatocellular carcinoma despite low circulating androgen levels

Iqbal, M J; Wilkinson, M L; Forbes, A; Corbishley, T P; Williams, R

Preponderance of serum and intra-hepatic 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone in males with hepatocellular carcinoma despite low circulating androgen levels

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Iqbal, M J, Wilkinson, M L, Forbes, A ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7416-9843, Corbishley, T P and Williams, R (1986) Preponderance of serum and intra-hepatic 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone in males with hepatocellular carcinoma despite low circulating androgen levels. Journal of Hepatology, 3 (3). pp. 304-9. ISSN 0168-8278

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Abstract

To investigate possible influences of the sex-steroid milieu on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and vice versa, circulating and intra-hepatic sex-steroid levels were investigated and compared with the levels in cirrhosis alone. In cirrhotic men with HCC, serum 17 beta-oestradiol levels were normal, unlike the elevated levels in men with cirrhosis alone. Total and free levels of testosterone and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were lower in patients with HCC than in cirrhotic or normal men; the greater decrease in testosterone levels caused an elevated DHT: testosterone ratio. Hypothalamic-pituitary axis dysfunction demonstrated for HCC and cirrhotic groups could not explain the differences in sex-steroids between them. Compared with normal tissue, HCC cytosol had lower testosterone and similar DHT levels; both androgens were higher than in cirrhotic tissue, and the intracellular DHT: testosterone ratio in the tumour was much higher than in control tissue. Results suggest alterations in sex-steroid metabolism in HCC favouring hepatic accumulation of 5 alpha-reduced metabolites aided by the elevated intracellular sex-hormone binding globulin levels shown in HCC tissue.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	aged,carcinoma, hepatocellular,dihydrotestosterone,estradiol,humans,liver,liver cirrhosis,liver neoplasms,male,middle aged,sex hormone-binding globulin,testosterone
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Gastroenterology and Gut Biology Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Nutrition and Preventive Medicine
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	06 Aug 2014 10:46
Last Modified:	18 Jun 2026 16:31
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/49499
DOI:

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