Hormonal pattern in prostatic carcinoma following orchidectomy: 5-year follow-up

Clinical and hormonal findings have been collected from 14 patients affected by carcinoma of the prostate observed over a 5-year period following orchidectomy. Plasma testosterone decreased significantly after surgery (62 ng +/- 21 SD/100 ml), remaining below 100 ng/100 ml even in cases showing only a partial regression or increase of the tumour. Gonadotropin FSH increased 1 year after orchidectomy to 28 mIU +/- 5/ml and remained constantly elevated up to the 5th year, whilst LH increased progressively up to the 5th year (30 mIU +/- 12/ml). Finally, plasma cortisol increased progressively up to 23.2 microng +/- 17.4/100 ml at the 5th year post-orchidectomy, especially in those cases showing partial regression or increase of the tumoral mass, indicating an adrenal hyperfunction which is probably responsible for increased production of weak androgens that can be transformed in the prostate into more active compounds. These results suggest therefore that after orchidectomy, cortisol and adrenal androgen determination may be of value in detecting the potential activation of prostatic adenocarcinoma.