Ovarian enzymatically active stromal cells can be a promoter of ovarian surface epithelial tumor.

Surface epithelial tumors (SETs) are the most common neoplasms of the ovary. They are traditionally thought derived from the ovarian surface or, as a recent hypothesis suggests, from various sources outside of ovary. Enzymatically active stromal cells (EASCs) are scattered in stroma of ovary, and characterized by their steroid-producing ability. With my observation of the increased EASCs near the epithelial cells of SETs, I hypothesize the epithelial cells of SETs can cause the increase of EASCs by converse adjacent stromal cells to EASCs; and EASCs, as a positive feedback, can prompt the proliferation of their neighbouring epithelial cells of SETs by secreting steroid hormone.