Phase II study of cis-diammine(glycolato)platinum, 254-S, in patients with advanced germ-cell testicular cancer, prostatic cancer, and transitional-cell carcinoma of the urinary tract. 254-S Urological Cancer Study Group

A multicenter cooperative study was conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of cis-diammine(glycolato)platinum (254-S), a second-generation anticancer platinum complex, in the treatment of genitourinary cancers. 254-S was given i.v. at 100 mg/m2 at 4-week intervals. As a result, 2 complete responses (CRs) and 8 partial responses (PRs) were obtained in 35 patients with transitional-cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder or pyeloureter, 3 PRs were obtained in 16 subjects with prostatic cancer, and 6 CRs and 6 PRs were obtained in 15 patients with testicular cancer, generating objective response rates of 28.6% [95% confidence interval (CI), 14.6%-46.3%], 18.8% (95% CI, 4.0%-45.6%), and 80.0% (95% CI, 51.9%-95.7%), respectively. Bone marrow suppression was the dose-limiting toxicity, although it was reversible. Although no hydration was performed in approx. 40% of the patients, the incidence of nephrotoxic effects was low and most of those encountered were mild, the exception being one patient who showed severe renal insufficiency after the first treatment. Nausea and vomiting occurred in approx. 70% of the patients, but most gastrointestinal toxicities were controlled without antiemetic treatment. In addition, liver-function impairment was rarely observed. We conclude that 254-S is a promising cisplatin analogue for the treatment of genitourinary cancers and is worthy of further investigation in large-scale, randomized comparative studies with other platinum derivatives in both single-agent and combination regimens.

Osteocalcin: is it a useful marker of bone metastasis and response to treatment in advanced prostate cancer?

Serum osteocalcin (OC) is derived largely from new cellular synthesis. It is a marker for bone formation and a noninvasive specific marker of osteoblastic activity. The clinical significance of OC in monitoring prostatic cancer bone metastases was evaluated. Pretreatment serum OC levels were determined with a radioimmunoassay kit in a total of 63 patients with prostate cancer (8 with stage B, 12 with stage C, 12 with stage D1, and 31 with metastatic bone disease). The OC levels in patients with skeletal metastasis were significantly higher than those in patients without bony lesions (P less than 0.01). The pattern of the initial changes in OC levels were analyzed in patients with skeletal metastasis who received endocrine treatment. The pretreatment OC value is of little use in predicting the response to treatment. The patients whose OC level initially increased and remained high tended to have a shorter interval to disease progression. On the other hand, the pattern of initial changes in OC varied according to the regimen of endocrine treatment. Our study suggests that OC seem to reflect the response to treatment and might lead to the improvement in follow-up procedures. However, the clinical significance of OC as a marker of the response of bone metastasis should be carefully discussed with regard to the direct hormonal effect on bone metabolism.

[Clinical studies on prognostic factors in predicting pregnancy]

During the 5-year period from January 1984 to December 1988, 1,025 men were investigated for infertility. The patients were classified according to WHO laboratory manual. Using life-table analysis, WHO's classification of semen analysis was a useful discriminant for infertility prognosis. The Cox's multiple regression model was employed to investigate the relationship between various semen characteristics and future fertility. The duration of infertility, sperm concentration, sperm progressive motility, the presence of female factor were independent and statistically significant factors which influence the cumulative probability of conception.

[Current status of continent urinary reservoirs for invasive bladder cancer patients undergoing total cystectomy]

Continent urinary reservoirs (CUR) have become one of the major options of urinary diversion for invasive bladder cancer patients who require cystectomy and cutaneous urinary diversion. We have experienced 100 cases of Kock pouch and 30 cases of indiana pouch during the past 5 years which comprise 45% of all cases. Standard ileal conduit and ureterocutaneostomy were performed in 34% and 20%, respectively, and orthotopic urinary reservoir by hemi-Kock pouch was done in only one case during the same years. There were 3 perioperative deaths, 2 had Kock pouch and one Indiana pouch. Early postoperative complications were not substantial. However, significantly high rates of late postoperative complications were seen in Kock pouch, i.e., both efferent (18%) and afferent (13%) nipple valves and stone formation (18%). Uretero-ileal anastomosis by hammock method done in 10 cases resulted in success in 8 cases, abolishing the afferent nipple. Indiana pouch, in which no nipple valves or foreign materials like staples or collars are necessary, has been adopted as a first choice for the past 3 years. Of 29 evaluable cases, Heineke-Mikulicz method was used in 7 cases, and ileal patch method in 22 cases. An hourglass-like deformity was seen in 2 cases in the former method. Severely difficult catheterization, parastomal abscess, and acidosis occurred in one. Overall, 24 cases (83%) have come up with satisfactory results with minimal overflow incontinence in the early postoperative course. Although much longer followup is necessary, CUR's by Kock or Indiana pouch are more acceptable by bladder cancer patients requiring cystectomy.

Enhanced expression of interleukin-6 in primary human renal cell carcinomas

We have demonstrated interleukin-6 (IL-6) production by human renal carcinoma cells. The IL-6 gene expression was detected by Northern blot analysis in 22 of 43 primary renal cell carcinoma tissues and in five of seven renal cell carcinoma cell lines. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the expression of IL-6 by the tumor cells. Patients with a high-level expression of IL-6 had significantly greater incidences of lymph node metastasis and a larger increase in serum C-reactive protein than those without it. We have also probed for the presence of IL-6 receptor by Northern blot analysis; we detected this receptor in 11 of the 43 primary renal cell carcinoma tissues but in none of the seven renal cell carcinoma cell lines. However, by use of the complementary DNA-polymerase chain reaction, the IL-6 receptor transcript was detected in all specimens, including the seven cell lines. No expression of the interleukin-3 (IL-3) gene was identified in any of the 43 primary renal cell tumors. These data provide evidence that IL-6 and its receptor may play a role in promoting the transformation and/or proliferation of renal cell carcinomas as well as in teh development of symptoms.

[Young-Dees-Leadbetter's posterior urethral lengthening procedure for urinary incontinence: report of three cases]

Urinary incontinence caused by functional or anatomical incompetence of the urethral sphincter is one of the most challenging problems in urological surgery. Posterior urethral lengthening accomplished by tubularization of the trigonum, which was proposed by H. H. Young, J. E. Dees and G. W. Leadbetter, has been shown to improve the outcome in epispadia patients with incontinence. We report our experiences of Young-Dees-Leadbetter's operation in three patients. Case 1 was a 55-year-old woman who had undergone removal of the external genitalia to treat genital Paget's disease, resulting in total incontinence. About one half of the urethra had been removed, resulting in a shortened urethral length of 2.5 cm. Case 2 was a 6-year-old boy with penile epispadia, who had leadage of about a third of the total urine volume. Case 3, an 18 year-old female patient, suffered from total urinary incontinence which had resulted from a defect in the entire urethra and bladder neck following a motor vehicle accident. Posterior urethral lengthening together with ureteral reimplantation was performed on these three patients according to Leadbetter's or Dees' method. Subtotal continence was achieved in cases 1 and 3, and incontinence was completely cured in case 2. Based on our results with these three cases, we feel that Young-Dees-Leadbetter's operation is a useful method for treating sphincteric incontinence, particularly in female patients with an anatomical urethral defect.

Common regions of deletion on chromosomes 5q, 6q, and 10q in renal cell carcinoma

Relatively frequent losses of heterozygosity on chromosomes 5q, 6q, and 10q, in addition to loss of heterozygosity on the short arm of chromosome 3, have been observed in renal cell carcinomas. As the first step toward isolation of tumor suppressor genes on these three chromosomal arms, we used six restriction fragment length polymorphism markers for 5q, nine for 6q, and eight for 10q to identify regions commonly deleted in a panel of 64 renal cell carcinomas. Allelic losses were common at chromosome 5q21, the region where the MCC (mutated in colorectal cancer) gene was recently identified; at chromosome 6q27; and at chromosome 10q21-23. Furthermore, as association was observed between accumulation of allelic losses on these three chromosomal arms and progression of tumors. Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 5 showed a correlation with the histopathological grade of a given tumor and the incidence of distant metastasis.

[Clinical studies on endocrine therapy for prostatic carcinoma (5): Analyses of relapse from endocrine therapy]

Prostate carcinomas are well known to be initially responsive to endocrine therapy. However, a significant number of the patients experience a relapse from endocrine therapy during the follow-up period. We clinically analyzed various aspects of the relapse which indicate a limitation in the effectiveness of endocrine therapy for prostate carcinoma. In a total of 372 patients, 117 (31.5%) had some evidence of local relapse such as regrowth of the primary lesion, or a generalized relapse such as re-elevation of total acid phosphatase, reactivation of previously present metastasis or the new appearance of metastasis, during endocrine therapy. Of these, one-fourth had local relapse alone and the remainder showed generalized relapse. The interval from the start of the treatment to the time of relapse tended to become shorter; 45.9 months (mean) in stage B, 36.8 in stage C and 29.3 in stage D, according to the stage progression. As to the non-relapse rate of the primary lesion, no differences were found among the stage, with the rate being approximately 90% at the fifth year in each stage. However, the generalized relapse-rate tended to increase with the stage progression. In the generalized relapse, the patients of stage C or D showed a non-relapse rate of 71.7% or 67.4%, respectively. Most of the generalized relapse appeared within five years following start of endocrine therapy in these advanced stages. The interval from relapse to prostate carcinoma-related death in patients with the generalized relapse was 9 approximately 21 months, and those in stage D tended to show a a poorer prognosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Quantitative analysis of seminiferous epithelium in subfertile carriers of chromosomal translocations

In order to study the effect of structural chromosomal aberrations on spermatogenesis, quantitative analysis of the germinal epithelium was performed on testicular specimens from 12 carriers of balanced chromosomal translocations diagnosed at male infertility clinics: a Y-autosome translocation, eight reciprocal translocations, and three D/D Robertsonian translocations. Spermatogenic arrest at the spermatocyte stage was revealed in the Y-autosome translocation and four of the reciprocal translocations. The number of spermatids was selectively reduced in three carriers, while normal spermatogenesis was found in three. Thus, the majority of carriers with impaired semen quality showed a complete or partial reduction in the number of spermatids, suggesting that the effect of chromosomal aberrations is to arrest the spermatogenic process at the spermatocyte stage.

[Clinical experience of local hyperthermia for benign prostatic hyperplasia]

A total of 20 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia underwent transrectal local hyperthermia. For heating of the prostate gland, the PROSTATHERMER (Biodan-Medical System, Israel) was used. Patients were treated twice weekly, for 1 hour, with 6 sessions on an outpatient basis. Four of the 20 patients who had acute toxicity such as urethral irritability due to urethral thermoprobe could not tolerate the treatment. In the majority of the patients who were completely treated, a significant decrease in frequency of nocturia, decrease in post-void residual urine capacity and increase in urine flow rate were observed. No significant change in prostate volume was noted. With a mean follow-up of 6 months, only 1 patient required subsequent prostatic resection. These findings indicate that local hyperthermia applied by this method is effective in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and that improvement of the thermometry system is needed.

[Clinical studies on endocrine therapy for prostatic carcinoma (4): Initial response to endocrine therapy and prognosis]

We have already pointed out by the use of multivariate analysis that local response of the prostate is one of the important prognostic factors in patients receiving endocrine therapy. Herein, we investigated how the local response to endocrine therapy affects the survival rate or the survival period. We also studied the relationship between the local response and histopathological findings. The local response of prostate was not correlated with the stage progression. Sixty-seven percent of the patents in each stage had an initially favorable local response of the prostate, in which the primary tumor became flattened or reduced by endocrine therapy. By contrast, the local response of the prostate was well correlated with the prognosis in each stage. Patients with a flattened or reduced primary lesion following endocrine therapy showed a higher survival rate or a longer survival period than those with the unchanged lesion. This result has confirmed that the local response of prostate to endocrine therapy is useful in predicting clinical courses of patients. Grade of structural atypism (SAT), one of the pathological findings, had a correlation with local response of the prostate. With an elevation of the SAT grade, the proportion of patients with unchanged primary lesion was increased.

[Ureaplasma urealyticum and mycoplasma hominis in male urethritis]

We conducted a multi-center clinical study to evaluate the role of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in male urethritis. The incidence of each organism in first-voided urine samples of 160 male urethritis patients, including 28 with gonococcal and 126 with non-gonococcal urethritis, was investigated. U. urealyticum and M. hominis were isolated from 13.6% and 6.5%, respectively, of the urine samples, and the concentration of each mycoplasma exceeded 10(3) ccu/ml (color changing units/ml) in 5.2% and 3.9%, respectively. Among 64 patients with non-gonococcal non-chlamydial urethritis, U. urealyticum and M. hominis concentration exceeding more than 10(3) ccu/ml were detected in only two and one samples, respectively. The incidence among urethritis patients with a concentration of either mycoplasma exceeding 10(3) ccu/ml was not significantly greater than that among subfertile males without urethritis. The findings of the present study suggest that, although mycoplasmas may cause urethritis in some patients, the incidence of urethritis due to U. urealyticum or M. hominis is low among patients with non-gonococcal, non-chlamydial urethritis.

[Intrascrotal and seminal vesicular granuloma probably induced by propionibacterium acnes]

A case of right intrascrotal and seminal vesicular granuloma probably induced by Propionibacterium acnes is reported. A 62-year-old man was admitted to our department because of low grade fever and the right intrascrotal and retrovesical masses without tenderness. Ultrasonography computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and vesiculography suggested a neoplasm. However, leukocytosis and high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and c-reactive protein level (CRP) suggested inflammatory disease. He was treated for 1 week with parenteral cefazolin (CEZ) (4 g/day), and the intrascrotal mass was remarkably reduced in size. To rule out neoplasms, right orchiectomy and needle biopsy of the right seminal vesicle were performed and nonspecific chronic granuloma was identified histologically. On the 5th postoperative day he developed fever (39.2 degrees C) and P. acnes was isolated from blood culture. Gram stain revealed gram-positive rods in the specimen. Further chemotherapy normalized levels of ESR and CRP and white blood cell count and reduced the right seminal vesicle to its normal size. Recently several cases of infection induced by P. acnes have been reported, but this is the first report in the genitourinary tract.

[The pitfall of ESWL]

The pitfall of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL), such as complications of ESWL, problems of focus and results of stone disintegration are discussed. The progress of ESWL today is mainly due to the development of new generation lithotripters and endourological support, which has broadened the indications of ESWL. The necessary shock-waves have been selected, and complications have been reduced. Post ESWL stone street is now easier to treat. We expect more improved lithotripters such as by incorporation of X-ray and echo focusing systems. Endourological techniques including laser lithotripsy also should be improved.

[A clinical study on primary hyperparathyroidism--indication of operation and surgical technique]

Fifty-two cases of primary hyperparathyroidism were experienced at Kyoto University Hospital and affiliated hospitals between 1965 and 1990. Thirty-three of them (63%) were of the stone type, twelve (23%) of the bone or mixed type, seven (13%) of the chemical type. Histopathological findings showed adenoma in 49 cases and hyperplasia in 3 cases. Serum calcium levels decreased postoperatively in all cases of adenoma but unchanged in 2 of 3 cases of hyperplasia. For parathyroid adenoma, the accuracy of localization was more than 90% by the combination of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, subtraction scintigraphy with 201TI and 123I, venous sampling for parathyroid hormone and/or angiography. Simple removal of parathyroid adenoma may be recommended in a case of primary hyperparathyroidism due to a single adenoma which was revealed by preoperative image diagnosis.

Evaluation of anti-human immunodeficiency virus effect of recombinant CD4-immunoglobulin in vitro: a good candidate for AIDS treatment

CD4 molecule, a surface marker of helper T lymphocytes, interacts with gp120 of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with a high affinity and, hence, serves as a virus receptor. Soluble chimeric CD4-immunoglobulin (Ig) possesses anti-HIV activity due to its binding activity to gp120. Furthermore, this recombinant molecule has unique Ig-like properties representing Fc receptor-binding activity and a long half-life in vivo. In this report we have thoroughly evaluated the effect of this compound on HIV infection using different in vitro systems. Treatment with 4 micrograms/ml of recombinant CD4-Ig after infection completely blocked the HIV-specific cytopathic effect, antigen expression, and virus release in MT-4 cells, a human T cell line which is highly susceptible to HIV. Similarly, this molecule blocked the HTLV-III/B and YU-1 strains of HIV infection in peripheral blood mononuclear cells even at 1 microgram/ml. Pretreatment of the Fc receptor-positive cell line U937 with this reagent resulted not in enhancement but again in blocking of HIV infection. About 95% of HIV infection was inhibited in U937 cells when cells were treated with this compound at the time of exposure to HIV. Recombinant-CD4-Ig also completely inhibited HIV-induced syncytia formation between MOLT-4 and MOLT-4/HIV and resulting virus release at 8 and 2 micrograms/ml, respectively. Due to its stability and long half-life, this compound could be a promising therapeutic agent against HIV infection.

Effects of dietary calcium, magnesium and phosphorus on the formation of struvite stones in the urinary tract of rats

After feeding various diets we studied the effects of dietary calcium, magnesium and phosphorus on the formation of struvite stones in rats with urinary tract infections, and also studied the effects of the administration of vitamin D3 and aluminium gel on stone formation. A low-magnesium diet decreased urinary magnesium and prevented stone formation, but a medium-calcium diet did not significantly decrease stone weight. A high-calcium diet decreased urinary phosphorus and inhibited stone formation. A high-calcium and high-phosphorus diet decreased urinary excretion of magnesium and inhibited stone formation. Although the administration of vitamin D3 did not inhibit stone formation, aluminium gel decreased the urinary level of phosphorus and prevented stone formation. A marked decrease in urinary magnesium and/or phosphorus may prevent struvite stone formation in rats with urinary tract infections.

Epstein-Barr virus activating principle in husbands' semen of cervical cancer patients

A short-term in vitro assay for detecting tumor promoter activity has been cultivated utilizing the induction of Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) in EBV genome-carrying human lymphoblastoid cell line (Raji cell) system. By using this system, we found that some of human semen samples possessed a marked capacity to induce EBV-EA, suggesting possible tumor promotor activity of semen. In the present study, 60 semen samples obtained from husbands of cervical cancer patients and 90 control samples were incubated with Raji cells for 48 h, and EBV-EA-expressing cells detected by indirect immunofluorescence were counted. The percentages of EBV-EA-positive cells treated with semen of cervical cancer patients' husbands (8.17 +/- 5.43%) were significantly higher than those of controls (5.23 +/- 5.91%). Since most of EBV-EA expressing effect on Raji cells show overlapping with tumor promotor activities, our present results implies the circumstantial association of seminal EBV-EA inducing activity with occurrence of human cervical cancer.

[A comparison of the quality of life of prostatic cancer patients under slow releasing LH-RH analogue (TAP-144SR Depot) treatment or synthetic estrogen treatment]

The quality of life (QOL) was studied on 31 prostatic cancer (PC) patients, being followed at our out-patient-clinic during a relapse-free period. Fifteen of them were under treatment with a slow releasing LH-RH analogue (TAP-144 SR Depot) (TAP) and the other 16 prostatic cancer patients with synthetic estrogen (Honvan) (DES). The QOL of 37 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients on conservative treatment was also studied. Concerning their general feeling of health, the prostatic cancer patients on TAP treatment felt subjectively better than those on DES. The social life of the patients on TAP or those who had BPH was less affected than that of those on DES. The quality of sexual life was worse for the prostatic cancer patients on both TAP and DES treatment than for the BPH patients.

Evidence for insertion sequence-mediated spread of the thermostable direct hemolysin gene among Vibrio species

The tdh gene of Vibrio parahaemolyticus which encodes the thermostable direct hemolysin has been found in some strains of other Vibrio species. Analysis of seven tdh genes cloned from V. parahaemolyticus, Vibrio mimicus, and non-O1 Vibrio cholerae revealed that all tdh genes were flanked by insertion sequence-like elements (collectively named ISVs) or related sequences derived from genetic rearrangement of ISVs. The ISVs possessed 18-bp terminal inverted repeats highly homologous to those of IS903 (2- to 4-bp mismatch) and were 881 to 1,058 bp long with less than 33.6% sequence divergence. These features and nucleotide sequence similarities among ISVs and IS903 (overall homologies between ISVs and IS903, ca. 50%) strongly suggest that they were derived from a common ancestral sequence. A family of ISVs were widely distributed in Vibrio species, often regardless of the possession of the tdh genes, and one to several copies of the ISVs per organism were detected. A strain of V. mimicus possessed two copies of the ISVs flanking the tdh gene and three copies unrelated to the tdh gene. However, the transposition activity of the ISVs could not be demonstrated, probably because they had suffered from base changes and insertions and deletions within the transposase gene. The possible mode of ISV-mediated spread of the tdh gene is discussed from an evolutionary standpoint.

[Present status and questions on early prostatic cancer (stage A, B)]

Prostatic adenocarcinoma confined to the prostate gland can be eradicated with radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy. Accurate staging including pelvic lymphadenectomy is needed for defining adequate therapeutic modality. Effort must be made in detecting low stage prostatic cancer. Stage A1 prostatic cancer have to be followed carefully to determine its prognosis and thus most suitable therapy for it.

[A clinical evaluation of AMS Hydroflex in the treatment of impotence]

The AMS Hydroflex penile prosthesis was implanted in 34 organic impotence patients between June 20, 1986 and Aug. 6, 1990. Patients ages ranged between 26 and 71 with an average of 50.5. The causes of impotences were; 17 cases of post-radical pelvic surgery, 7 cases of injury, 6 cases of diabetes and 4 of others. First evaluation was made after 12 weeks of implantation in terms of patient satisfaction with sexual intercourse and post operative complication. Sixteen patients (47.1%) were highly satisfied with intercourse, 13 (38.2%) satisfied with intercourse, 2 (5.9%) slightly dissatisfied even with successful intercourse, 1 (2.9%) with no improvement and 2 (5.9%) could not follow. Utility of the prosthesis, e.g. effectiveness and safety was; high utility in 20 (58.8%), good utility in 11 (32.4%), slight utility in 1 (2.9%), no favorable in 1 (2.9%) and no judgement in 1 (2.9%). The overall effectiveness and safety of the Hydroflex was demonstrated based on the above findings. Long term evaluation was made from the initial implantation of the device up to the termination of the trial with average of 19.2 months and was mentioned altogether.

A strong inhibition of HIV-induced cytopathic effects by synthetic (1----6)-alpha-D-mannopyranan sulfate

The anti-HIV effects of mannopyranan sulfate (1) were investigated by using MT-4 cells, namely, an HTLV-I-carrying CD-4 positive cell-line, in vitro. Stereoregular (1----6)-alpha-D-mannopyranan, which had been synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of a 1,6-anhydromannose derivative, was sulfated with piperidine-N-sulfonic acid to provide 1. N.m.r. analysis of 1 indicated that the reactivity of hydroxyl groups was in the order, 3-OH greater than 2-OH much greater than 4-OH. Mannopyranan sulfate having degree of substitution (d.s.) of 1.19-1.83 effectively inhibited HIV-induced cytopathic effects at a concentration of greater than 3.3 micrograms/mL. The anticoagulant activity and the adsorption on concanavalin A of 1 indicated the possibility of selective binding of 1 having d.s. of 1.19-1.83 to HIV-protein.

Peripheral hormone levels in controls and patients with prostatic cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia: results from the Dutch-Japanese case-control study

The possible relationship between changes in peripheral hormone levels and the occurrence of prostatic pathology was studied in a case-control study, involving estimation of various plasma hormones in 368 Dutch and 258 Japanese men, who were grouped as controls and patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, focal prostatic carcinoma, or clinically evident prostatic carcinoma. Results of a number of previous, smaller studies concerning interrelationships between hormone levels in elderly men were confirmed within the Dutch and Japanese groups. Plasma levels of testosterone and estradiol were significantly lower in the Japanese men, when compared with those in Dutch men. Probably as a result of this difference in testosterone levels, the ratio between serum levels of testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) was decreased in the Japanese men, while the ratio between the concentrations of dihydrotestosterone and testosterone was increased. These differences were also found when results from Japanese subgroups (controls and patients with prostate pathology) were compared with those from the Dutch subgroups. There were no significant differences in plasma androgen levels between Japanese or Dutch prostate cancer cases and their respective control subgroups. These findings do not support a correlation between the lower plasma testosterone levels and a lower incidence of prostate cancer in the Japanese men. Furthermore, no significant differences were found between salivary levels of testosterone or the ratio between testosterone and SHBG in the various Dutch subgroups. In Japanese benign prostatic hyperplasia patients, the testosterone to SHBG ratio was significantly increased. In conclusion, the results of this retrospective, cross-sectional study do not indicate that hormonal levels play a primary role in the origin or promotion of prostatic abnormalities. The finding of a lower plasma testosterone in the Japanese men, however, remains suggestive, warranting a more extensive prospective study.