Growth regulatory factors of ovarian cancer

卵巢癌的预后是妇科恶性肿瘤中最差的（5年生存率为35%）。有几个因素被认为是导致最差预后的原因。(1)无症状性疾病，（2）早期无诊断方法，（3）多种组织学类型。另一方面，卵巢癌细胞产生和分泌多种生物活性物质，如生长因子、细胞因子和蛋白酶。这些物质可能促进或抑制卵巢癌的生长，并应用于临床诊断和治疗，我们已经建立了分离和表征这些极少量产生的物质的方法。人卵巢癌细胞系的无血清培养和生物化学方法是阐明卵巢癌生长调控机制的有效途径。

The prognosis of ovarian cancer is the worst (the 5 year survival rate 35%) among gynecologic cancers. Several factors are considered to contribute the worst prognosis. (1) Silent (no symptom) disease, (2)no method to diagnose early stage, (3) many histologic types.On the other hand, ovarian cancer cells produce and shedd many kinds of biologically active substances such as growth factors, cytokines, and proteases. These substances may promote or inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer and are applied to the clinical diagnosis and treatment.We have established the methodology of isolation and characterization of such substances that are produced in extremely small amount. Both culture of human ovarian carcinoma cell lines in serum-free medium and biochemical procedures are useful approach to elucidate the growth regulatory mechanisms of ovarian cancer.