Automated urinary steroid profiles by capillary column gas-liquid chromatography and a computing integrator

The multicomponent analysis of estrogens in urine by ion exchange chromatography and GC-MS--II. Fractionation and quantitation of the main groups of estrogen conjugates

A method for the metabolic profiling of estrogen conjugates in urine is described. It mainly involves protection of carbonyl functions by ethoximation, solid extraction on Sep-Pak C18 cartridges, a number of ion exchange chromatographic steps and quantitation by capillary GC or GC-MS. The acetate form of DEAE-Sephadex is used to initially separate estrogen conjugates into four groups; unconjugated, monoglucuronides, monosulfates and double conjugates. Monoglucuronides are further subfractionated to A- and D-ring glucuronides by carbodiimide methylation of the carboxylic functions and chromatography on the free base form of DEAE-Sephadex. Double conjugates are subfractionated to disulfates and sulfoglucuronides by solvolysis and chromatography on the acetate form of DEAE-Sephadex. After the appropriate enzymatic hydrolysis or solvolysis procedures the liberated free estrogens are purified and fractionated by a series of anion exchange chromatographic steps. Finally, following trimethylsilyl ether derivatization estrogens are analysed by capillary GC or GC-MS. The method permits the quantitation of the main conjugates of all the important estrogen metabolites including catechol estrogens. The method is precise, the sensitivity depending on the quantitation mode employed GC or SIM GC-MS. The method was applied to seven late pregnancy urines the values of which are presented.

Urinary androgen and 17-hydroxylated corticosteroid metabolites and their relation to recurrence rates in early breast cancer

The amounts of urinary androsterone and etiocholanolone are highly correlated with recurrence rates in patients with early breast cancer after treatment by mastectomy. A more efficient means of predicting the clinical course of the disease is obtained by using a ratio of these compounds to the amounts of individual 17-hydroxycorticosteroids in the urine. For instance, the ratio of androsterone to alpha-cortolone is particularly effective in identifying women with a high rate of recurrence, and this is largely independent of pathological stage and tumor grade.

Investigation of urinary steroid profiles as a diagnostic method in Cushing's syndrome

Patients with Cushing's syndrome may be discriminated from normal subjects on the basis of their respective neutral urinary steroid profile. In the former group, evidence is presented that lowered levels of T3 secondary to hypercortisolism, decrease the liver enzymes associated with 5 alpha-reductase and 11 beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase activity. As a result the metabolism of cortisol and androstenedione in Cushing's syndrome yields a unique pattern dominated by 5 beta and 11 beta-hydroxy steroid metabolites.