METHOD AND MATERIALS FOR DETECTING PATHOLOGY FROM ALTERATIONS IN ESTROGEN METABOLISM

摘要

A method and associated materials for detecting pathology by determining alterations in estrogen metabolism in mammals are disclosed which comprise isolating at least two distinct metabolites of estrone from a biological sample taken from the mammal under examination, determining the quantity of each of the said metabolites in the sample, correlating the quantities of each of said metabolites with each other to arrive at a quotient of said metabolites, and comparing said quotient with an extrinsic quotient derived either previously from the mammal under test, as by the previous performance of the within test, or from the testing of other subjects of the same species, to determine any alterations in said estrogen metabolism from which such pathology, or pathologies, may be detected. The present method contemplates the investigation and use of products of enzymatic hydroxylation of estrone, enzymatic reduction of estrone, enzymatic oxidation of estrone, and enzymatic methylation of estrone. Methods of measurement of estrogen metabolites and related test kits are also disclosed.