Blood hormone levels related to stages and grades of prostatic cancer.

Human follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), human luteinizing hormone (LH), human prolactin, testosterone, estradiol, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured in the blood of 100 consecutive new patients with prostatic carcinoma. According to the VACURG classification, 14% of the patients were in Stage I, 25% in Stage II, 25% in Stage III, and 36% in Stage IV. Within each stage the tumors were further subdivided into either highly, moderately, or poorly differentiated carcinomas. Thus the whole group consisted of 12 categories (stages and grades) of prostatic carcinoma. No specific hormonal pattern emerged which could distinguish any particular category or group of categories. We, therefore, conclude that single hormone measurements are of no practical value for diagnostic purposes related to staging and grading of prostatic carcinoma.