Inhibin A, B and pro-alphaC in serum and peritoneal fluid in postmenopausal patients with ovarian tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To compare serum and peritoneal fluid concentrations of inhibin A, B, and pro-alphaC in women with ovarian tumors.


METHODS
Serum and peritoneal fluid samples were taken from 41 postmenopausal women operated on for an ovarian tumor. Twenty-one patients with endometrial cancer formed a control group. Serum and peritoneal fluid inhibin A, B, and pro-alphaC concentrations, and serum FSH and tumor marker CA 125 (study group only) concentrations were analyzed.


RESULTS
Inhibin A was found in low concentrations (median 4.1pg/ml, range <2-29pg/ml) in serum in most postmenopausal patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma, whereas inhibin B was not measurable. Inhibin pro-alphaC circulated in high concentrations (median 125pg/ml, range 37->1000pg/ml). All inhibins were found in clearly greater concentrations in the peritoneal fluid than in serum. International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage III-IV and poor differentiation grade were associated with significantly lower concentrations of inhibin A and pro-alphaC in the peritoneal fluid compared with stages I-II or low grade. This correlation was not found in the serum concentrations of inhibin A or pro-alphaC. In the control group, no dimeric inhibins were found in serum, and pro-alphaC circulated in median concentrations of 47pg/ml (range 12-174pg/ml).


CONCLUSIONS
Postmenopausal patients with epithelial ovarian tumors had low concentrations of inhibin A and relatively high concentrations of inhibin pro-alphaC in serum. The peritoneal fluid concentrations of all inhibins far exceeded those in the serum. Relatively low concentrations of inhibin A and pro-alphaC in the peritoneal fluid of patients with ovarian cancer seem to be associated with high stage and grade and, to a lesser degree, with positive peritoneal cytology.
Ala-Fossi
S L
SL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. sirkka-liisa.ala-fossi@uta.fi
Mäenpää
J
J
Bläuer
M
M
Tuohimaa
P
P
Punnonen
R
R
D000368:Aged; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D029584:Prostatic Secretory Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D010455:Peptides; D029584:Prostatic Secretory Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; C043076:beta-microseminoprotein; C094377:inhibin-alpha subunit; C095971:inhibin-alpha subunit precursor; D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone