Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein PP12 in ovarian cyst fluid.

Elevated levels of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGF-bp) were recently found in the serum of patients with ovarian tumors. We studied the concentration of IGF-bp in cyst fluids of 37 women operated on for benign or malignant ovarian cysts. The levels were elevated (greater than 47 micrograms/l) in 6 of 28 benign, but in none of the nine malignant ovarian cysts. The highest IGF-bp concentration (447 micrograms/l) was observed in a benign serous cystadenoma.