Peritoneal fluid gonadotropins and ovarian hormones in patients with ovarian cancer

The aim of this study was to examine the hormonal milieu in peritoneal flui d in ovarian cancer and control patients, and to try to identify hormonal p arameters specific for ovarian cancer. The study included 41 patients: 21 w ith ovarian cancer and 20 patients with benign disease, constituting a cont rol group. The peritoneal fluid and serum samples from these patients were subjected to analysis of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing ho rmone (LH), estradiol. (E-2), progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and levels were compared betwee n the two study groups. In addition, peritoneal fluid samples were subjected to cytologic examinati on and serum samples were assayed for CA 125. All the examined hormonal par ameters in peritoneal fluid demonstrated a significant increase in ovarian cancer compared to control patients (P < 0.04). No significant difference i n serum levels of the measured hormones was observed between the 2 groups. In order to further discriminate between patients with and without ovarian cancer, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive valu es, and diagnostic accuracy of each parameter were calculated. Determinatio n of LH in peritoneal fluid provided sensitivity, specificity and diagnosti c accuracy of 100%. In conclusion patients with ovarian cancer as compared to controls demonstr ate significantly increased levels of gonadotropins and ovarian hormones in peritoneal fluid, thus supporting the theory of association between ovaria n cancer and specific hormonal milieu. In addition, our results provide a n ovel hormonal marker for discrimination between patients with and without o varian cancer.