This study by Charles Huggins and Clarence V. Hodges investigates the effects of castration, estrogen, and androgen injections on serum phosphatases in metastatic prostatic carcinoma. The researchers found that serum acid phosphatase levels decreased in metastatic prostatic carcinoma following castration or estrogen injections, while they increased with androgen injections. They also observed that alkaline phosphatase levels increased after castration and decreased after androgen injections. The study suggests that prostatic cancer is influenced by the activity of male hormones, with decreased androgenic function inhibiting the cancer and increased androgens activating it. The findings indicate that elevated serum phosphatase levels can be used as indicators of the activity of different types of cells in the tumor, with acid phosphatase levels reflecting prostatic epithelial activity and alkaline phosphatase levels reflecting osteoblastic activity. The study also highlights the importance of androgen levels in modulating these activities.This study by Charles Huggins and Clarence V. Hodges investigates the effects of castration, estrogen, and androgen injections on serum phosphatases in metastatic prostatic carcinoma. The researchers found that serum acid phosphatase levels decreased in metastatic prostatic carcinoma following castration or estrogen injections, while they increased with androgen injections. They also observed that alkaline phosphatase levels increased after castration and decreased after androgen injections. The study suggests that prostatic cancer is influenced by the activity of male hormones, with decreased androgenic function inhibiting the cancer and increased androgens activating it. The findings indicate that elevated serum phosphatase levels can be used as indicators of the activity of different types of cells in the tumor, with acid phosphatase levels reflecting prostatic epithelial activity and alkaline phosphatase levels reflecting osteoblastic activity. The study also highlights the importance of androgen levels in modulating these activities.