Prostanoids and cyclic nucleotides in malignant and benign ovarian tumors

The concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 6-keto-PGF1a, thromboxane B2(TxB2), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in ovarian tumor tissue were measured in 38 post-menopausal women with malignant or benign ovarian tumor and in six women without ovarian neoplasm. PGE2 and TxB2 contents in ovarian cancer tissue were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in normal ovarian tissue. The prostanoids were also increased in the cyst fluid of epithelial malignant tumors compared to cyst fluids of benign ovarian tumors. Cyclic AMP concentrations in cancer tissue were lower than in nonmalignant ovarian tissue, while the levels of cGMP were similar in all groups studied.