Methodologic basis for the radioimmunoassay of endogenous steroids in human prostatic tissue.

Methods are presented for the accurate radioimmunoassay of tissue dihydrotestosterone, testosterone, estradiol-17 beta, estrone, and progesterone that require significantly less time than other methods. Benign prostatic hyperplasia concentrated dihydrotestosterone, estradiol-17 beta, and estrone at levels significantly greater than those found in normal prostate or male plasma. These findings provide additional support for the importance of endocrine factors in the etiology of benign prostatic hyperplasia. A wide range of dihydrotestosterone and estrogen levels was found in prostatic adenocarcinoma samples and may reflect the proportion of endocrine-dependent cells in each tumor. Levels of endogenous steroids may provide a rational basis for the selection of endocrine therapy in the treatment of prostatic neoplasia.