Histochemical and Biochemical Enzyme Studies in Prostatic Carcinomatous Tissue Before and During Treatment with Estrogen

Abstract

The activity and distribution of five hydrolytic enzymes in human prostatic carcinomatous tissue were studied before and during treatment with estrogens. The histochemical findings were in accordance with earlier investigations. The treatment markedly suppressed the acid phosphalase activity, but changed the other activities only slightly. The acid phosphatase/β-glucuronidase quotient was about 3 before treatment compared with less than 1 after successful treatment. This decrease might be a sign of a favourable effect of estrogen therapy.