EGF/TGF-alpha and progesterone in urine of ovarian cancer patients

Abstract

EGF/TGF-alpha and progesterone were measured in the urine of 74 ovarian carcinoma patients, 21 postmenopausal women with non-gynecological disseminated cancer, 20 premenopausal and 20 postmenopausal controls. Radically operated women excreted significantly less EGF/TGF-alpha into urine than women with residual tumour mass. The patients who died from ovarian carcinoma had significantly higher concentrations of growth factor in urine than patients who were alive and disease-free at follow-up. The highest urinary concentrations were found in the premenopausal control group and among women with non-ovarian malignancies. A significant correlation between concentrations of progesterone and EGF/TGF-alpha in urine was noted.