Peripheral and ovarian venous concentrations of steroid and gonadotropin hormones in postmenopausal women with epithelial ovarian tumors

Decreased Serum Level of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate in Postmenopausal Women with Ovarian Cancer

“…Only mucinous tumors had significantly higher estradiol and progester one levels, but without difference between malignant and benign tumors [12,13]. These findings also exclude the possibility that DHEAS is used as a substrate in estrogen syn thesis in ovarian cancer tissue [11], Neither does the fact that DHEAS has an enzymemediated effect on conversion of estrone to estradiol, and the metabolism of estradiol to estrone confirm our previous studies with the same levels of estradiol and estrone and the low levels of DHEAS now measured in pa tients with ovarian cancer [9,12], Malignancy itself may change the adrenal function and thus decrease DHEAS levels in patients with ovarian cancer. On the other hand, there is no change in cortisol levels in women with ovarian cancer compared to control subjects and the benign ovarian tu mor group [12],…”

“…Although DHEAS is a major secretory product of the adrenal cortex, its biological role is not known; neither is it clear what mechanism controls the secretion of this steroid sulfate [2]. In addition to ACTH, estradiol and pro lactin have been shown to influence adrenal secretion of DHEAS [2,11], Our previous study [12] demonstrated that neither estra diol nor prolactin levels differ in malignant and benign ovarian tumors in postmeno pausal women. Only mucinous tumors had significantly higher estradiol and progester one levels, but without difference between malignant and benign tumors [12,13].…”

“…This concep tion is supported by the fact that the ad vanced ovarian cancer group had lower DHEAS levels than those found in local ovarian cancer. The possibility that DHEAS is used in the steroidogenesis of ovarian tu mors is worth considering [11], However, the previous study demonstrated that ovar ian cancer itself has no significantly higher sex steroid concentration in either periph eral or ovarian venous blood, while muci nous ovarian tumors had the highest levels of sex steroids [12,13].…”

“…In addition to ACTH, estradiol and pro lactin have been shown to influence adrenal secretion of DHEAS [2,11], Our previous study [12] demonstrated that neither estra diol nor prolactin levels differ in malignant and benign ovarian tumors in postmeno pausal women. Only mucinous tumors had significantly higher estradiol and progester one levels, but without difference between malignant and benign tumors [12,13]. These findings also exclude the possibility that DHEAS is used as a substrate in estrogen syn thesis in ovarian cancer tissue [11], Neither does the fact that DHEAS has an enzymemediated effect on conversion of estrone to estradiol, and the metabolism of estradiol to estrone confirm our previous studies with the same levels of estradiol and estrone and the low levels of DHEAS now measured in pa tients with ovarian cancer [9,12], Malignancy itself may change the adrenal function and thus decrease DHEAS levels in patients with ovarian cancer.…”

A useful cell system for studying the regulation of 17HSD/KSR type 2 activity and expression in ovarian epithelial cancer

“…Relatively abundant expression of mRNA for various steroidogenic enzymes including members of the steroid dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily was reported for human ovarian surface epithelial cells [15]. Both benign and malignant tumors have also been shown to produce androgens and estrogens suggestive of autocrine or paracrine relationships between steroidogenesis, steroid metabolism and receptor function [16].…”