Enzymatic activities related to steroid synthesis in common ovarian cancer

Enzymatic activities related to steroidogenesis were studied in six common ovarian cancers by incubating the combined microsomal and soluble fractions of tissue homogenates with radioactive steroids. Transformation steroids were isolated from the incubation media and identified by chromatography and recrystallization to constant specific activity. In four cancers, 17α-hydroxylases, desmolases, and Δ5-3β-ol hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases were found. Two of these were capable of aromatization steroid precursors. The possible sites of steroid production within the cancerous tissues are discussed.