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Hormonal therapy in ovarian cancer
  1. H. Zheng*,,
  2. J. J. Kavanagh*,
  3. W. Hu*,
  4. Q. Liao and
  5. S. Fu
  1. * Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
  2. The First Hospital of Peking University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing, China
  3. Department of Gynecologic Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
  1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Siqing Fu, MD, PhD, Department of Gynecologic Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 301439—Unit 1364, Houston, TX 77230-1439, USA. Email: siqingfu{at}mdanderson.org

Abstract

Ovarian carcinoma continues to be the leading cause of death due to gynecological malignancy. Epidemiologic studies indicate that steroid hormones play roles in ovarian carcinogenesis. Gonadotropins, estrogen, and androgen may be causative factors, while gonadotropin-releasing hormone and progesterone may be protective factors in ovarian cancer pathogenesis. Experimental studies have shown that hormonal receptors are expressed in ovarian cancer cells and mediate the growth-stimulatory or growth-inhibitory effects of the hormones on these cells. Hormonal therapeutic agents have been evaluated in several clinical trials. Most of these trials were conducted in patients with recurrent or refractory ovarian cancer, with modest efficacy and few side effects. Better understanding of the mechanisms through which hormones affect cell growth may improve the efficacy of hormonal therapy. Molecular markers that can reliably predict major clinical outcomes should be investigated further in well-designed trials

  • androgen
  • estrogen
  • gonadotropin
  • gonadotropin-releasing hormone
  • hormonal therapy
  • ovarian cancer
  • progesterone

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