DHEA and cancer

An interesting article has been published in Ageing Res Rev 2002 Feb;1(1):29-41 under the title "Uses of DHEA in aging and other disease states." authored by M.D. Johnson, R.A. Bebb, and S.M. Sirrs at Division of Endocrinology, University of British Columbia, 262-575 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver BC, Canada V5Z 1C6 discusses correlations between lowered DHEA level, and aging and various diseases and cancer.

Dehydro-3-epiandrosterone is a steroid hormone synthesized in large quantities by the adrenal gland whose physiologic role remains unclear. The effects of DHEA could be estrogenic or androgenic, depending on the hormonal milieu. Low levels of DHEA are associated with aging, cardiovascular disease in men, and an increased risk of pre-menopausal breast and ovarian cancer. High levels of DHEA might increase the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. Therapeutically DHEA might be useful for improving psychological well-being in the elderly, reducing disease activity in people with mild to moderate systemic lupus erythematosus and myotonic dystrophy, improving mood in those clinically depressed, and improving various parameters in women with adrenal insufficiency. Although many other claims have been made for DHEA in diverse conditions, such as aging, dementia, and AIDS, no well-designed clinical trials have clearly substantiated the utility and safety of long-term DHEA supplementation.

Another review article published in Curr Med Chem 2001 Sep;8(11):1349-62 includes DHEA as a candidate for an anti-cardinogenic agent. The article, under the title "A review of cancer chemopreventive agents." was authored by M.S. Levi, R.F. Borne, and J.S. Williamson at School of Pharmacy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA.

In the late 20(th) century, the treatment of cancer began to include its prevention. Today, compounds exist that will lower the risk of developing certain types of cancer. This has been demonstrated in studies where chemically induced tumor growth has been slowed or reversed. Anti-inflammatory compounds having chemopreventive activity are piroxicam, sulindac, aspirin, celecoxib and curcumin. The selective estrogen receptor modulators, tamoxifen and raloxifene, are beneficial in the prevention of estrogen dependent tumors. Retinoids, vitamin A derivatives, such as targretin and fenretinide are useful in the prevention of tumors. Compounds containing sulfur, such as sulforaphane and oltipraz, are even useful as radioprotective agents. The steroid dehydroepiandosterone can inhibit experimental carcinogenesis. All of these chemical classes provide a start for the medicinal chemist to design more effective chemopreventive agents. The biomarkers used to determine the chemopreventive activity of new compounds are quite often activities of enzymes. The identification of those individuals at high risk is still in its infancy and presents a troubling dilemma.

DHEA or dehydroepiandrosterone is an endogenous intermediate steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands. DHEA is called "mother of hormones", or prohormone because DHEA is further converted to generate 50 other essential hormones such as androgens (male hormones) or estrogens (female hormones) in the cells. DHEA is the most abundant hormone in our blood, and adequate blood DHEA or DHEA-S (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) level is critical for many vital hormonal and metabolic functions of our body.

Unfortunately, our body produces less and less DHEA as we age, and as a result, our blood DHEA (or DHEA-S) level decreases as we get older, generally falling significantly by the age of 30, and by as much as 50% by as 40.

DHEA Research Links