Urinary 17-ketosteroid fractions in young patients with breast cancer.

The main fractions of 17-ketosteroids were estimated in 30 young women (under 40 years) with breast cancer and 20 controls of the same age. The determination of the fractionated ketosteroids was made by thin layer chromatography on silicagel. The mean levels of etiocholanolone, androsterone, total ketosteroids and the sum of the fractions of 17-ketosteroids were significantly decreased in patients with breast cancer in comparison with the controls. No significant differences between the mean levels of dehydroepiandrosterone and 11-oxygenated-17-ketosteroids were noted in these groups.