title: The role of reproductive hormones in epithelial ovarian carcinogenesis.
abstract: Epithelial ovarian cancer comprises ∼85% of all ovarian cancer cases. Despite acceptance regarding the influence of reproductive hormones on ovarian cancer risk and considerable advances in the understanding of epithelial ovarian carcinogenesis on a molecular level, complete understanding of the biologic processes underlying malignant transformation of ovarian surface epithelium is lacking. Various hypotheses have been proposed over the past several decades to explain the etiology of the disease. The role of reproductive hormones in epithelial ovarian carcinogenesis remains a key topic of research. Primary questions in the field of ovarian cancer biology center on its developmental cell of origin, the positive and negative effects of each class of hormones on ovarian cancer initiation and progression, and the role of the immune system in the ovarian cancer microenvironment. The development of the female reproductive tract is dictated by the hormonal milieu during embryogenesis. Intensive research efforts have revealed that ovarian cancer is a heterogenous disease that may develop from multiple extra-ovarian tissues, including both Müllerian (fallopian tubes, endometrium) and non-Müllerian structures (gastrointestinal tissue), contributing to its heterogeneity and distinct histologic subtypes. The mechanism underlying ovarian localization, however, remains unclear. Here, we discuss the role of reproductive hormones in influencing the immune system and tipping the balance against or in favor of developing ovarian cancer. We comment on animal models that are critical for experimentally validating existing hypotheses in key areas of endocrine research and useful for preclinical drug development. Finally, we address emerging therapeutic trends directed against ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Building 10, 12N226, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1906, USAWomen's Malignancies BranchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Center for Cancer Research, Bethesda, Maryland, USADepartment of Gynecologic OncologyWalter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA hgh7@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gharwan
authors.affiliation: National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Building 10, 12N226, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1906, USAWomen's Malignancies BranchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Center for Cancer Research, Bethesda, Maryland, USADepartment of Gynecologic OncologyWalter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Building 10, 12N226, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1906, USAWomen's Malignancies BranchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Center for Cancer Research, Bethesda, Maryland, USADepartment of Gynecologic OncologyWalter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Bunch
authors.affiliation: National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Building 10, 12N226, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1906, USAWomen's Malignancies BranchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Center for Cancer Research, Bethesda, Maryland, USADepartment of Gynecologic OncologyWalter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Annunziata
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000196:embryology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002645:Chickens; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D052138:Genes, Neoplasm; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000196:embryology; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D007107:Immune System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007265:Inhibins / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000196:embryology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011323:Primates; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000473:pathology; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D016328:NF-kappa B; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins
keywords: endocrine; hormone action; immune; ovarian cancer; reproductive