In situ androgen production in human gastric carcinoma--androgen synthesizing and metabolizing enzymes.

BACKGROUND It is well known that the incidence of gastric carcinoma is lower in females than in males. Therefore, androgens have been proposed to play an important role in modifying the development of gastric carcinoma. 5Alpha-reductase (5alpha-reductase) types 1 and 2 and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 5 (17beta-HSD type 5) are considered important local regulators of androgen production in human androgen-responsive tissues and cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS The immunoreactivities of these steroidogenic enzymes, as well as of the androgen receptor (AR), were evaluated in human gastric carcinoma obtained from endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) (n = 117). RESULTS 17beta-HSD type 5 immunoreactivity was detected in 99 cases (85%), 5alpha-reductase type 1 in 69 cases (59%), 5alpha-reductase type 2 in 57 cases (49%) and AR in 46 cases (39%). CONCLUSION These androgen-producing enzymes are expressed in human gastric carcinomas and are involved in the in situ production and possible regulation of androgenic activity in human gastric carcinoma.