Correlation of Pretreatment Serum Nonprotein-Bound Cortisol and Total 17-Hydroxycorticosteroid Values with Survival in Patients with Prostatic Cancer

Serum nonprotein-bound Cortisol and total 17-hydroxycorticosteroid values determined before and after treatment in a large series of patients with prostatic cancer constituted important variables in predicting survival; 17-hydroxycorticosteroid levels appeared to be a better prognostic indicator of death in the first year than the patient's age, treatment, or stage of disease. In general, the higher the initial value of the serum nonprotein-bound cortisol and 17-hydroxycorticosteroid, the greater the probability of death during the first year of treatment. There was no preponderance of one type of death over another when patients with initial high and low values were compared. (N Engl J Med 291:751–755, 1974)