Androgen production by epithelial ovarian tumours in post-menopausal women

Peripheral serum concentrations of androstenedione (A) and testosterone (T) were measured in 31 post-menopausal women with epithelial ovarian tumours (12 cancer, 5 borderline malignant and 14 benign tumours), and in 20 post-menopausal women who were free from ovarian neoplasms. The levels of these androgens were also measured in ovarian venous blood in 17 women with ovarian tumours. No significant differences were found between the mean serum androgen levels in patients with malignant, borderline malignant or benign ovarian tumours or the control group. The measured levels of A and T in peripheral and ovarian venous blood were highest in women with mucinous ovarian tumours. Histopathological examinations of the ovarian tumours showed hyperplasia or luteinization in ovarian tumour stroma in 5 out of 17 cases (3 mucinous tumours, 1 endometrioid adenocarcinoma and 1 serous adenocarcinoma). The results indicate that of all epithelial tumours mucinous ovarian tumours most often demonstrate hormonal activity and that malignancy has no effect on hormonal activity.