EGF TGF-ALPHA AND PROGESTERONE IN URINE OF OVARIAN-CANCER PATIENTS/

EGF/TGF-alpha and progesterone were measured in the urine of 74 ovaria n carcinoma patients, 21 postmenopausal women with non-gynecological d isseminated cancer, 20 premenopausal and 20 postmenopausal controls. R adically operated women excreted significantly less EGF/TGF-alpha into urine than women with residual tumour mass. The patients who died fro m ovarian carcinoma had significantly higher concentrations of growth factor in urine than patients who were alive and disease-free at follo w-up. The highest urinary concentrations were found in the premenopaus al control group and among women with non-ovarian malignancies. A sign ificant correlation between concentrations of progesterone and EGF/TGF -alpha in urine was noted.