[Sex and pituitary hormone secretion in adolescents with osteogenic sarcoma and retarded sexual development]

Basal levels of secretion of total testosterone, estradiol-17 beta, their free, albumin-binding and sex steroid-binding globulin (SSBG)--binding fractions, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin and somatotropic hormone were measured in blood serum in the following groups of adolescents: (1) healthy, (2) suffering primary osteogenic sarcoma of the bone, (3) osteogenic sarcoma patients with pubertal retardation, and (4) pubertal retardation. A significant increase in total testosterone fraction, free androgen index and a decrease in blood SSBG level were established in osteogenic sarcoma patients as compared to corresponding controls, irrespective of pubertal status. No difference in the above indexes for estrogens was established between osteogenic sarcoma patients and controls in both pubertal status subgroups. The role of sex steroid hormones, particularly, androgens in the pathogenesis of osteogenic sarcoma is discussed.