Etiologic factors in carcinoma of the prostate.

A staining method is presented by which azocarmine combines with spermine to form a poorly soluble red precipitate highlighted against the yellow cytoplasm of positive cells achieved by counterstaining with metanil yellow. In the prostate, the spermine-dye complex was abundant in normal acinar epithelial cells, moderate in the epithelial cells of hyperplastic glands, and moderate to absent in carcinoma cells. Spermine is evidently concerned with stabilizing the structure of desoxyribose nucleic acid and probably of proteins, notably several zinc metalloenzymes. Diagnosis and treatment of carcinoma of the prostate should include an adequate basic diet, retention of testes, hormonal treatment oriented toward testicular, pituitary and hypothalamic hormones; zinc--ordinary and radioactive; and utilization of spermine and precursors.