Low sex steroid environment affects survival and steroid secretion of ovarian tumour cells in primary cultures.
Ovarian epithelial tumours are considered to be endocrine related. The effects of an environment with low levels of the steroid hormones 17 beta-estradiol, testosterone or progesterone on cell survival and steroid secretion were studied in primary cell cultures derived from 25 patients suffering from epithelial ovarian tumours. Tumour cells cultured in 17 beta-estradiol and testosterone showed a reduced cell survival (-10.3 +/- 2.3% and -15.6 +/- 2.7% minimum survival respectively). This reduction was inversely proportional to hormone concentrations within the range studied. No similar effect was observed in the progesterone cultures. It was found that 17 beta-estradiol was secreted from the primary cell cultures and, interestingly, the amount of 17 beta-estradiol secreted increased with increasing levels of 17 beta-estradiol in the environment. Neither progesterone nor testosterone production was observed in any of the cultures studied. It is believed that 17 beta-estradiol has an antiapoptotic effect on ovarian surface epithelial (OSE) cells. Reduction of 17 beta-estradiol in the environment may inhibit this effect, resulting in reduced cell survival. The ability of ovarian epithelial tumour cells to secrete 17 beta-estradiol suggests that epithelial ovarian tumours play an active role in altering their own hormonal environment, promoting tumour progression.
Taube
M
M
Department of Clinical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Umeå, SE 901 85 Umeå, Sweden.
Höckenström
T
T
Isaksson
M
M
Lindgren
P R
PR
Bäckström
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018450:Disease Progression; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D013256:Steroids; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol