ENDOCRINE FACTORS IN COMMON EPITHELIAL OVARIAN-CANCER

The OVARIES are specialized organs of reproduction, liberating gametes for fertilization and producing hormones, which may act in various genital and nongenital tissues. A number of different cell types are present in the functioning ovary: epithelial cells, stromal cells, and germ cells. Although all cell types may undergo malignant transformation, the vast majority of neoplastic ovarian tumors are of the epithelial type, and it is this type of tumor that will be discussed in this paper. Epithelial ovarian tumors are derived from the surface epithelium of the ovary, which is the adult equivalent of the mesothelium of the embryonic gonad (Müllerian epithelium). There is a close relationship between epithelial tumors and the Müllerian epithelium. Serous tumors resemble the epithelium of the Fallopian tube; endometrioid and clear cell tumors resemble the endometrium; and mucinous tumors resemble the endocervical epithelium. In females, ovarian cancer accounts for 4% of cancers and 6% of cancer deaths (1). The mortality rate from ovarian cancer is higher than for cervical and endometrial cancer combined. Current treatment of ovarian cancer consists of surgery, usually followed by cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy (2). © 1991 by The Endocrine Society.