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In 32 subjects with histologically and/or cytologically verified prostatic cancer the hormonal pattern was studied by assaying 18 plasma and urinary hormones or groups of hormones. The tumours were classified according to the UICC classification system and the hormone values were correlated to the local extent of the tumour (T classification), the presence of metastases (M classification) and the differentiation grade (G classification). It was found that patients with metastases had significantly higher plasma oestradiol and lower testosterone/oestradiol and testosterone/oestrone plus oestradiol ratios as compared to those subjects without metastases. In subjects with moderately or poorly differentiated tumours plasma oestrone + oestradiol was significantly higher and the testosterone/oestrone + oestradiol ratio was significantly lower than in the subjects with well differentiated tumours. In the various TNM classification groups no obvious trends were found with regard to urinary hormones and no significant differences between the groups for plasma FSH, LH, prolactin, progesterone and cortisol were observed. It is concluded that in more advanced cases with metastatic cancer and when tumours are less well differentiated the androgen/oestrogen ratio may be decreased. These alterations have no diagnostic significance because of great overlapping of individual results between the various groups of patients.Studies on urinary and plasma hormones in human subjects with prostatic cancer have revealed controversial results and there does not seem to be any clear difference in sex hormone production or metabolism or sex hormone binding globulin bind¬ ing capacity (SHBG) between these subjects and normal individuals other than possible differences due to changes in the general condition of the carcinoma patients (for literature see Voigt & Krieg 1978). The results obtained would suggest that at least the sex hormone pattern prevailing before the development of cancer has no influence on the formation of the cancer. However, recent results showing significantly different hormonal pattern in two histological groups of cancer (Bartsch et al.1977a) seem to suggest that the hormonal milieu could influence the further development of the cancer cells.In order to study the correlation of the hormonal pattern in prostatic cancer with local extent of tumour, presence of métastases and grade of dif¬ ferentiation, 18 hormones or groups of hormones were assayed in the plasma and urine of patients classified according to UICC classification system. The results indicate that a low plasma testosterone/ oestrogen (T/Oe) ratio is typical for patients with poorly and moderately differentiated advanced prostatic carcinoma. Materials and Methods SubjectsThe series consisted of 32 patients with histologically and/or cytologically verified prostatic cancer (mean age A preliminary report of these results was presented at the IXth Meeting of the International Study Group for Steroid Hormones in Rome, 5 -7 December 1979 (Rannikkoetal. 1979).

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