Cell kinetics of human epithelial ovarian cancers.

Tumor cellular proliferative activity was evaluated by 3H-thymidine labeling index (LI) determination in 73 lesions from 62 patients with ovarian cancers. The median LI value for the overall series was 5.8% and places this tumor type in a position of intermediate proliferative activity. In this case series, the relationship between proliferative activity and different morphologic and pathologic characteristics of the disease was analyzed. Similar median LI values were found for ascitic effusions and solid tumors and, among these, between primary tumors and metastases. No significant relation was observed between proliferative activity and histologic type, whereas a definite direct correlation was found between the kinetic variable and prognostic features such as pathologic stage and histologic grading. In fact median LI was higher for stage IV for stage I and for grade 3 than for grade 1 tumors. The strong association between tumor proliferative rate and conventional prognostic factors suggests that also on this tumor type the kinetic variable could play a role as a prognostic indicator and modulator of aggressiveness.