Abstract

Ovarian cancer arises from the specialized surface epithelium, which routinely expresses receptors for reproductive hormones and growth factors. However, as a group, ovarian tumors are less responsive to hormonal therapy than either breast or endometrial cancer. The complex factors that govern hormonal response and associated molecular interactions are under intensive investigation, with the generation of new hypotheses that merit clinical evaluation. As such, it is reasonable to consider a number of potential hormonal interventions related to the prevention and treatment of ovarian cancer.