STEROID-HORMONE PROFILE IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH OVARIAN-CANCER

Raised levels of steroid hormones are not expected in postmenopausal w omen. Therefore, if detected in postmenopausal women with ovarian canc er, they must be assumed to be related to the presence of the tumour a nd, therefore, may be of use as tumour markers. Serum levels of CA125, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, sex hormone binding globulin an d oestradiol were measured in 44 postmenopausal women with ovarian can cer, postsurgery and prior to chemotherapy. The relationship between t he four hormone levels, CA125, patient age, stage, residual disease af ter surgery and differentiation were tested using the Spearman and Ken dall rank coefficients. A significant inverse association was found be tween CA125 and progesterone levels, and CA125 and 17-hydroxyprogester one. A positive association between 17-hydroxyprogesterone and progest erone was also found, and positive correlations between stage and CA12 5, and residual disease and CA125 were confirmed.