[Effects of gonadotropin on the growth of malignant ovarian neoplasms assessed by subrenal capsule assay]

In the present study 18 cases of malignant ovarian neoplasm were studied to determine the possible role of sex steroid hormones and gonadotropins on tumor development. Twelve cases of serous cystadenocarcinoma, 2 of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, 2 of endometrioid carcinoma, one malignant Brenner tumor, and one yolk sac tumor were examined with respect to their response to estradiol (E2), [D-Ser(But)6]-LHRH (1-9) nonapeptide-etylamide (Buserelin), human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG), RU 38486 (RU), and pure FSH by subrenal capsule assay (SRCA). Also 125I-FSH binding assay and the protein kinase C (CK) activity were studied in vitro. The results showed; 1) Seventy-three% cases showed a significant increase (p less than 0.05) in size due to SRCA. 2) In the FSH, HMG, and Buserelin treated groups, the size of xenografts increased (p less than 0.05) and the highest response was obtained with FSH. 3) Ninety-one% of cases demonstrated in vitro FSH specific binding which was significantly higher (p less than 0.05) in the cases which responded to gonadotropins in SRCA (42,288 +/- 25,454 vs 6,980 +/- 1,952, mean +/- SD, cpm/mg tissue). 4) CK activity was increased significantly (p less than 0.05) by gonadotropin (204.5 +/- 2.4 vs 363.9 +/- 7.2, mean +/- SD, cpm/mg tissue). These results suggest that gonadotropins possibly play a role in prompting the tumorigenesis of the malignant ovarian neoplasms through specific receptors and this mechanism may modify the CK system in malignant ovarian neoplasms.