The studies presented in this thesis provide experimental data which could contribute to the discussion on whether adrenal androgens are, directly or indirectly, capable of inducing growth stimulation of human prostate tumor tissue. Hormonal titration experiments were conducted to investigate whether there is a critical androgen level for growth stimulation of human prostate tumors and whether or not this threshold level exceeds the androgen levels found in castrated men (Chapters 5 and 7). Since the adrenals of rodents do not secrete androgens (Chapter 6), castration of the mouse can be regarded as total androgen withdrawal. The effect of adrenal androgens on human prostate tumor growth was studied in PC-82 tumorbearing mice supplemented with adrenal androgens, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (Chapters 7 and 8). In the general discussion (Chapter 10) an attempt is made to integrate experimental data and the derived ideas presented in this thesis with clinical experience on prostate cancer. Hopefully this thesis will contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of androgen regulated growth of human prostatic carcinoma which, together with the outcome of the necessary future experiments with human xenograft models, will result in a more effective treatment of patients with advanced prostatic cancer.

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F.H. Schröder (Fritz)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
hdl.handle.net/1765/40716
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

van Weerden, W. (1992, June 3). Hormonal dependence of human prostate tumors transplantable in nude mice : the importance of low androgen levels in prostate tumor growth. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/40716