Progesterone and estradiol stimulate release of epidermal growth factor/transforming growth factor alpha by ovarian tumours in vitro.
Previous studies have demonstrated locally increased steroid production and release of EGF/TGF-alpha in ovarian carcinomas. The influence of added steroid hormones on EGF-like activity in ovarian tumours in vitro was investigated. Using radioreceptor assay, EGF-like activity was measured in media from incubations of postmenopausal ovaries, benign and malignant epithelial ovarian tumours from 27 patients. The 3-hour incubations were performed with and without addition of progesterone, testosterone or estradiol. Addition of progesterone and estradiol significantly increased the release of EGF/TGF-a from benign tumour tissue but did not stimulate release from control ovaries. A stimulating effect was also noted for malignant tumour tissue but the increase was not significant. Addition of EGF or IGF-1 did not affect the release of steroid hormones from ovarian tumours. A positive correlation between progesterone and EGF-like activity was found in incubation media of peritoneal fluid cells from cancer patients.
Ridderheim
M
M
Department of Gynaecological Oncology, University of Umeå, Sweden.
Stendahl
U
U
Bäckström
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012016:Reference Values; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor