Estrogen producing activity in epithelial ovarian tumors and dermoid cysts

In 28 cases of postmenopausal women with non-functioning ovarian tumors, the estradiol (E2) level was assayed in peripheral plasma and tumor tissue extract. E2 precursors were also assayed in the tissue extract, and localization of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) in the tissue was investigated. The plasma E2 levels were 153.8 +/- 205.9 pg/ml in 15 benign tumor cases, 244.3 +/- 336.5 pg/ml in 13 malignant tumor cases, and both of which were significantly higher than 12.3 +/- 3.6 pg/ml in normal postmenopausal women (p less than 0.01). The postoperative plasma E2 level (33.3 +/- 32.7 pg/ml) was significantly lower than the preoperative one (228.3 +/- 319.0 pg/ml). Twelve of 19 cases (68.2%) showed a postoperative decline in the E2 level to less than a half of the preoperative level. E2 and its precursors were found in tumor tissue. These findings demonstrate that E2 is produced by the tumor tissue itself. In addition, 3beta-HSD activity was localized in the stroma of ovarian tumors, indicating that E2 synthesis is mainly carried out in stromal cells rather than in epithelial cells.