PRELIMINARY STUDIES OF AROMATASE IN HUMAN NEOPLASTIC ENDOMETRIUM

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 63  (2) , 150-154
Abstract
The capacity of aromatization in 15 neoplastic human endometrial specimens was investigated. Viable tissue fragments were incubated with [3H]testosterone (10 mM) at 37.degree. C for 20 h. Various estrogens were isolated from the incubated tissues and medium. The mean value of estrogen synthesized in 12 cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma (16.0 .+-. 11, .hivin.x .+-. SD fmol/mg protein), is .apprx. 2 and 5 times higher than that of proliferative and secretory endometria, respectively. The highest capacity was found in 3 mixed Muellerian tumors (.hivin.x = 145 fmol/mg protein). The malignant endometria, in particular the mixed Muellerian tumors, evidently are able to synthesize estrogen in a capacity higher than that in normal endometria. Endometrial aromatase may play an important role in promoting cell growth in estrogen-sensitive tumors.