Fecal Steroid 21‐Dehydroxylase, a Potential Marker for Colorectal Cancer

  • Victor D. Bokkenheuser
  • , Jeanette Winter
  • , Anne C. Mosenthal
  • , Erwin H. Mosbach
  • , Charles K. McSherry
  • , Narayan K.N. Ayengar
  • , A. W. Andrews
  • , William B. Lebherz
  • , Roman J. Pienta
  • , Sylvan Wallenstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Eubacterium lentum and phenotypically similar organisms synthesize a steroid 21‐dehydroxylase which converts biliary tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone to pregnanolone. Tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone, in contrast to pregnanolone, is carcinogenic for hamster embryonic cells (HECT test). In patients with recently diagnosed, untreated sigmoidal or rectal cancer the fecal concentration of 21‐dehydroxylating organisms is reduced by more than 99% as compared with age‐matched controls. I he lack of fecal 21‐dehydroxylating organisms, therefore, is a potential marker for the disorder. The role of steroid 21‐dehydroxylase in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer is unknown.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)469-475
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican Journal of Gastroenterology
Volume78
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1983
Externally publishedYes

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