IN-VITRO STUDIES OF STEROID-HORMONE LEVELS AND PROGESTERONE AND ESTROGEN-RECEPTORS IN EPITHELIAL OVARIAN-TUMORS

In 20 women with malignant (n=9) and benign (n=11) ovarian tumors, pro gesterone (P4), androstenedione (A4) and estradiol (E2) were measured by radioimmunoassay, in the medium in which tissues had been incubated for 3h in 37 degrees C using oxygenated Hepes-MEM medium, The incubat ed tissues were taken from two different sites within the tumor, Histo logical examination was done on each specimen, Estrogen (ER) and proge sterone (PR) receptors were analysed in the different tissues, and rec eptor concentrations were correlated with hormone levels in the corres ponding medium. The distribution of hormone receptors in ovarian tumor s was uneven. Some cases had PR without ER being present, which indica tes that other factors other than E2 and ER promote production of PR, A close correlation was found between PR content in part of tumor tiss ue and A4 and P4 concentrations in the corresponding incubation medium , The level of A4 was considerably elevated in medium from ''tumor-bas e'' tissue which expressed PR, compared to medium from tissue not expr essing PR, The rise in P4 and E2 levels were less well pronounced, but taken together, the results shaved a pattern with steroid hormone pro duction in parts' of the tumor, where PR was available, There was no c orrelation either between ER and PR content in tumor tissue, or betwee n ER levels and steroid concentrations in the medium.