Inhibin as a marker for granulosa-cell tumors.
Inhibin is a peptide hormone normally produced by ovarian granulosa cells. It reaches a peak of 772 +/- 38 U per liter in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle and is undetectable in the serum of menopausal women. To determine whether measurements of serum inhibin levels would provide a biochemical marker of the presence or progression of ovarian granulosa-cell tumors and their metastases, we measured the serum immunoreactive inhibin concentrations in six women with such tumors. Three women had been treated by hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. In the two women with residual or recurrent disease, the serum inhibin levels were abnormally elevated 5 and 20 months before the clinical manifestations of recurrence became evident. The maximal concentrations approached 3000 U per liter. The serum inhibin level remained undetectable in one patient who was disease-free for 11 years. Serum inhibin concentrations were also elevated in three women with amenorrhea and infertility that resulted from small granulosa-cell tumors. After the removal of the tumors, the serum inhibin levels in these women became normal, and fertility returned. There was a significant negative correlation between the serum concentrations of inhibin and follicle-stimulating hormone, in a manner consistent with the autonomous production of inhibin by granulosa-cell tumors. We conclude that granulosa-cell tumors produce inhibin. Since serum inhibin levels reflect the size of the tumor, measurements of inhibin can be used as a marker for primary as well as recurrent disease.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Groningen State University Hospital, the Netherlands.
R E
RE
Lappöhn
H G
HG
Burger
J
J
Bouma
M
M
Bangah
M
M
Krans
H W
HW
de Bruijn
D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006106:Granulosa Cell Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D007265:Inhibins