Ectopic Human Growth Hormone in Ovaries and Breast Cancer*

Abstract
Immunoreactive human GH (hGH) has been found in 8 of 118 surgically removed human ovaries, with concentrations ranging from 50–51,000 ng/g tissue. The highest concentration was in an ovarian metastasis from an adenocarcinoma of the breast; a skin metastasis from this same carcinoma had an hGH concentration of 350,000 ng/g. All specimens were positive for hGH by radioreceptor assay as well as by RIA. Examination of four specimens at multiple dilutions by lactogenic and somatotropic receptor assays as well as by RIA did not reveal significant differences in slope between these specimens and that of the hGH standard. Sephadex gel chromatography of two specimens showed the major peak of immunoactivity eluting coincident with monomeric hGH. Ectopic hGH has not previously been reported in ovary or breast.

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