help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Danesi, R.
Right arrow Articles by Myers, C. E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Danesi, R.
Right arrow Articles by Myers, C. E.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 81, 2238-2246, Copyright © 1996 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Clinical and experimental evidence of inhibition of testosterone production by suramin

R Danesi, RV La Rocca, MR Cooper, MP Ricciardi, A Pellegrini, P Soldani, PJ Kragel, A Paparelli, M Del Tacca and CE Myers
Scuola Superiore di Studi Universitari e di Perfezionamento S. Anna, Pisa, Italy. mbxdanesi@mail.cnuce.cnr.it.

The effect of suramin on testosterone production was evaluated in cancer patients, adult male rats, rat Leydig cells, and NCI-H295 human adrenal cancer cells. Testosterone plasma levels markedly decreased in 14 patients receiving suramin as a therapy for refractory cancer, and in 8 of them, the plasma LH and/or FSH levels increased beyond the normal range. The hCG stimulation test (5000 IU, im) was performed in 8 patients and induced an average 2.1-fold increase in testosterone levels over baseline values. Testicular histology after suramin treatment was available in 1 patient who died of progressive disease; this revealed atrophy of seminiferous tubules and reduced Leydig cells in the interstitium. A significant reduction in plasma testosterone was also observed in rats given 18 mg/kg suramin, ip, twice weekly for 8 weeks, whereas plasma LH and FSH levels did not change significantly. Cytohistochemistry of testes from suramin-treated rats showed a reduced number of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-positive cells within the interstitium compared to controls, and light microscopy revealed severe impairment of spermatogenesis. Suramin inhibited the production of testosterone by isolated rat Leydig cells as well as the conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone by the 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme extracted from rat testes, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50 values) of 108.2 and 87.5 micrograms/mL, respectively. Furthermore, suramin reduced the release of testosterone into the culture medium of NCI-H295 adrenal cancer cells with IC50 values of 91.2 and 83.9 micrograms/mL after 6 and 12 days, respectively. These data provide the first evidence in patients that suramin treatment produces a marked reduction in the circulating levels of testosterone, a result that was also obtained in experimental models.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J EndocrinolHome page
E. Samandari, P. Kempna, J.-M. Nuoffer, G. Hofer, P. E Mullis, and C. E Fluck
Human adrenal corticocarcinoma NCI-H295R cells produce more androgens than NCI-H295A cells and differ in 3{beta}-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 and 17,20 lyase activities
J. Endocrinol., December 1, 2007; 195(3): 459 - 472.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EndocrinologyHome page
B. J. Arey, D. C. Deecher, E. S. Shen, P. E. Stevis, E. H. Meade Jr, J. Wrobel, D. E. Frail, and F. J. Lopez
Identification and Characterization of a Selective, Nonpeptide Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor Antagonist
Endocrinology, October 1, 2002; 143(10): 3822 - 3829.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 1996 by The Endocrine Society