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Androgens and Prostate Cancer

Ripple et al. (p. 40) demonstrate that physiologic levels of androgens can shift the prooxidant-antioxidant balance in androgen-responsive prostate cancer cells toward increased oxidative stress. Previous studies have linked oxidative stress with tumor development in a variety of tissues. Understanding how androgens bring about this shift in the prostate might provide clues on how to regulate or prevent prostate cancer, the investigators say.

They exposed androgen-responsive LNCaP and androgen-independent DU145 prostate carcinoma cells to various amounts of 5α-dihydrotestosterone and to the synthetic androgen R1881 and measured parameters of oxidative state (hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, lipid peroxidation, and oxygen consumption) and antioxidant defense mechanisms (glutathione, catalase, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase).

The study found that the ability to shift the prooxidant-antioxidant balance occurs only in androgen-responsive cells. Since prostate cancer and changes in the prooxidant-antioxidant balance are associated with aging, the investigators say their findings may lead to better understanding of age- and hormone-related diseases such as cancer.