Glioblastoma Cells Express Crucial Enzymes Involved in Androgen Synthesis: 3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase, 17-20α-Hydroxylase, 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase, and 5α-Reductase

Glioblastoma (GB) cells express crucial enzymes involved in androgen synthesis, including 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), 17α-hydroxilase/17,20-lyase (P450c17), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD), and 5α-reductase. This study used immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blot analyses on U87, LN229, and C6 cell lines to confirm the presence of these enzymes in the cytoplasm of GB cells. The findings suggest that GB cells have the necessary enzymatic machinery to synthesize androgens, which may contribute to the tumor's pathogenesis and could serve as potential targets for new therapeutic approaches.