COREGULATORY EFFECTS OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR, DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE,AND PROLACTIN ON BENIGN HUMAN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA TISSUE-CULTURE PROLIFERATION

BACKGROUND. A variety of hormones have demonstrated effects on prostat ic tissue growth dynamics. Our goal was to define the effect of dihydr otestosterone (DHT), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and prolactin (PRL ) on prostate cellular proliferation. METHODS. Thirty benign human pro static hyperplasias (BPH) were maintained 48 hr as in vitro cultures. Culture media were supplemented with EGF, DHT, and PRL alone and in co mbinations. Proliferation was assessed by labeling with tritiated thym idine. RESULTS. The proliferative response of individual BPH cultures was heterogeneous. DHT and EGF tended to have a greater proliferative effect than PRL, both in terms of the percent cultures responding and the magnitude of the response. PRL antagonized EGF-induced proliferati ve effects. EGF- and PRL-mediated effects correlated with each other, while DHT-mediated effects did not correlate with either those of PRL or EGF. CONCLUSIONS. The proliferative response of individual BPH to D HT, EGF, and PRL, alone or in combination, is too variable to define a predictable response to their influence. Our methodology represents a technique with the capacity to define therapeutic potential for indiv idual cases. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.