[Clinical significance of membrane receptors in ovarian carcinoma].

The expression of membrane receptors was investigated at different human ovarian carcinomas. It could be demonstrated, that no specific binding sites of the gonadotropin hCG and the prostaglandins PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were found in the investigated specimens. However, 30% of ovarian carcinomas had receptors for the growth factor EGF. The determination of binding parameters resulted in an affinity constant (KD) between 1-6 X 10(-9)M, the number of binding sites (Bmax) varied between 5-250 fmol/mg). Further parameters such as histology, grade of differentiation, steroid hormone receptor status, stage and tumor rest after surgery were similar in the EGF receptor-positive and -receptor-negative groups. But, the response to chemotherapy was significant higher in the EGF receptor-positive group. The comparison of median survival time resulted in a better prognosis for patients with EGF receptor-positive carcinomas. Further investigations will clarify, if the EGF receptor status can be taken as a prognostic marker in the schedule of treatment in patients with ovarian carcinomas.