Peritoneal fluid gonadotropins and ovarian hormones in patients with ovarian cancer

The aim of this study was to examine the hormonal milieu in peritoneal fluid in ovarian cancer and control patients, and to try to identify hormonal parameters specific for ovarian cancer. The study included 41 patients: 21 with ovarian cancer and 20 patients with benign disease, constituting a control group. The peritoneal fluid and serum samples from these patients were subjected to analysis of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol. (E-2), progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and levels were compared between the two study groups. In addition, peritoneal fluid samples were subjected to cytologic examination and serum samples were assayed for CA 125. All the examined hormonal parameters in peritoneal fluid demonstrated a significant increase in ovarian cancer compared to control patients (P < 0.04). No significant difference in 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 values, and diagnostic accuracy of each parameter were calculated. Determination of LH in peritoneal fluid provided sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of 100%. In conclusion patients with ovarian cancer as compared to controls demonstrate significantly increased levels of gonadotropins and ovarian hormones in peritoneal fluid, thus supporting the theory of association between ovarian cancer and specific hormonal milieu. In addition, our results provide a novel hormonal marker for discrimination between patients with and without ovarian cancer.