A report of a spontaneous estrogen-producing ovarian tumor in an AXC rat is presented. The tumor was of the granulosa-cell type with an admixture of large lutein cells. It has been successfully transplanted over three transplant generations in male and female, intact and castrate rats. A single metastasis was observed, occurring in the kidney, and composed of both granulosa and lutein cells. There is abundant evidence for estrogen production by the tumor both in the original animal and in animals bearing transplanted tumors. Other hormonal production, although likely, has not been demonstrated conclusively. Pituitary adenomas were seen in rats bearing transplants of the tumor. In two of these animals mammary carcinoma also developed. Histochemical study indicated abundant alkaline phosphatase in the granulosa cells of the tumor. This may account for the occurrence of metaplastic bone in some of the tumor transplants.

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This study was aided in part by grants from the National Cancer Institute of the U.S. Public Health Service, the Damon Runyon Memorial Fund, Mr. Ben May and Mr. F. W. Fischer.

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©1950 American Association for Cancer Research.
1950
Cancer Research, Inc.