Abstract
Summary
In 7 postmenopausal women with mammary cancer the urinary output of estrogens and related compounds has been studied under various conditions and compared with that of 8 normal postmenopausal women. Five of the 7 cancer patients were found to excrete excessive amounts. In these 5, when not receiving cortisone, the output of estrogens excreted as such averaged nearly 5 times the mean normal, and that of compounds estrogenic after Zn-HCl hydrolysis averaged 16 times the mean normal. Cortisone therapy markedly lowered these titres and reduced them to normal levels in 3 of 4 patients so treated. Except when under cortisone treatment the titres of estrogen and related compounds rose with advancing disease. The surgical removal of X-rayed ovaries lowered the titres of estrogens excreted as such but not of the unknown compounds rendered estrogenic by Zn-HCl treatment.
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