GROWTH-PROMOTING PROPERTIES OF CELL-FREE MALIGNANT ASCITES AND BENIGNPERITONEAL-FLUID ON EPITHELIAL OVARIAN-CARCINOMA CELLS IN CULTURE

The growth of epithelial ovarian carcinoma is regulated by a number of cytokines, some of which are stimulatory and some inhibitory. The cel ls of origin of these cytokines are known in only a few cases but incl ude tumor cells, lymphocytes, macrophages, other components of the imm une system, and mesothelial cells. Malignant ascites and nonmalignant peritoneal fluid contain varying quantities of cytokines dependent on the cell populations present and therefore the relative importance of any individual cytokine in the stimulation of tumor cells may vary bet ween patients. Because of the potential for cytokines to act in synerg y or in short paracrine loops it is proposed that the overall growth r egulating effect of ascites is of clinical importance to the patient w ith ovarian carcinoma. We have measured the overall stimulatory effect of 38 malignant and 26 benign, cell free, peritoneal fluids on the gr owth of epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells cultured in vitro. In all c ases, peritoneal fluid increased the growth of ovarian carcinoma cells in vitro when compared to standard growth media. There was no signifi cant difference in stimulation between peritoneal fluid obtained from benign ovarian tumors and other benign gynecologic conditions, but flu id obtained from patients with ovarian carcinoma had a significantly g reater growth stimulatory effect (P = 0.0132).