Jung-Hye Choi,
Alice S. T. Wong,
He-Feng Huang and
Peter C. K. Leung
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (H.-F.H., P.C.K.L.), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang 310016, China; Department of Zoology (A.S.T.W.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (J.-H.C., P.C.K.L.), University of British Columbia, Child and Family Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3V5
Correspondence: Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Peter C. K. Leung, Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, 2H-30, 4490 Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3V5. E-mail: peleung{at}interchange.ubc.ca
Ovarian epithelial cancer (OEC) accounts for 90% of all ovariancancers and is the leading cause of death from gynecologicalcancers in North America and Europe. Despite its clinical significance,the factors that regulate the development and progression ofovarian cancer are among the least understood of all major humanmalignancies. The two gonadotropins, FSH and LH, are key regulatorsof ovarian cell functions, and the potential role of gonadotropinsin the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer is suggested. Ovariancarcinomas have been found to express specific receptors forgonadotropins. The presence of gonadotropins in ovarian tumorfluid suggests the importance of these factors in the transformationand progression of ovarian cancers as well as being prognosticindicators. Functionally, there is evidence showing a directaction of gonadotropins on ovarian tumor cell growth. This reviewsummarizes the key findings and recent advances in our understandingof these peptide hormones in ovarian cancer development andprogression and their role in potential future cancer therapy.We will first discuss the supporting evidence and controversiesin the "gonadotropin theory" and the use of animal models forexploring the involvement of gonadotropins in the etiology ofovarian cancer. The role of gonadotropins in regulating theproliferation, survival, and metastasis of OEC is next summarized.Relevant data from ovarian surface epithelium, which is widelybelieved to be the precursor of OEC, are also described. Finally,we will discuss the clinical applications of gonadotropins inovarian cancer and the recent progress in drug development.
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