Decreased serum level of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in postmenopausal women with ovarian cancer.

Serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) were measured in 41 postmenopausal women with ovarian tumor (16 with ovarian cancer, 6 with borderline malignant and 19 with benign ovarian tumor) and in 21 postmenopausal women without ovarian neoplasm. Circulating DHEAS levels were significantly lower in patients with ovarian cancer than in women with benign ovarian tumor and in control subjects. Women with advanced ovarian cancer had lower DHEAS levels than those with local ovarian cancer. An age-related decrease in DHEAS levels was noted in the control group, while circulating DHEAS levels were independent of age in the ovarian cancer group. The results indicate the effect of ovarian cancer on this adrenal androgen and the possible presence of ovarian factor in malignant ovarian neoplasm.