Estrogen stimulation of ovarian surface epithelial cell proliferation

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynecological cancer mortality, and 85-90% of this malignancy originates from the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE). The etiology of ovarian epithelial cancer is unknown, but a role for estrogens has been suspected. However, the effect of estrogens on OSE cell proliferation remains to be determined. Using the rabbit model, our studies have demonstrated that 17beta-estradiol stimulates OSE cell proliferation and the formation of a papillary ovarian surface morphology similar to that seen in human ovarian serous neoplasms of low malignant potential. Immunohistochemical staining of ovarian tissue sections with an antibody to the estrogen receptor alpha demonstrates its expression in both OSE cells and stromal interstitial cells. In primary ovarian cell cultures, the proliferative response of the epithelial cells to 17beta-estradiol depends on the expression of the estrogen receptor alpha in the epithelial cells. However, when the epithelial cells are grown together with ovarian stromal cells, their proliferative response to this hormone is greatly enhanced, suggesting the involvement of stromal-epithelial interactions. These studies suggest a role for estrogens and the estrogen receptor alpha in OSE growth.