No Activating Mutations of FSH Receptor in Four Children with Ovarian Juvenile Granulosa Cell Tumors and the Association of These Tumors with Central Precocious Puberty

Abstract 

Study Objective

The stimulation of the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) by circulating FSH or some activating mutations of the FSHR may play a causal role in the development of granulosa cell tumors of ovaries.

Study design

We evaluated four patients with ovarian juvenile granulosa cell tumors (age range, 2.4 to 7.2; median, 2.9 years) and five healthy pubertal girls (age range, 16 to 18.5; median, 16.8 years) for activating mutations in exon 10 of the FSHR. The patients were followed and evaluated clinically. Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood. Exon10 of the FSHR was evaluated for mutations.

Results

All four patients presented with signs of precocious puberty. One patient, who had markedly accelerated growth velocity and advanced bone age, developed central precocious puberty after the removal of her tumor. Another patient was diagnosed to have a left ovarian cyst without tumor recurrence approximately 3.3 years after the removal of the tumor. Activating mutations were not found, but previously reported polymorphisms (Ser680Asn and Ala307Thr) of the FSHR were detected in three of four patients and in three of five controls. The follow-up period of these four patients ranged from 4.5 to 8.8 years, with a median value of 6.7 years.

Conclusions

We did not find any activating mutation in exon 10 of the FSHR in our patients, and one patient developed precocious puberty after removal of her tumor. The development of ovarian tumors in these patients may have been caused by mutations at other exons of the FSHR and G protein subunits, so the association noted between central precocious puberty and granulosa cell tumors might not be coincidental.

Key Words: Activating mutation, Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor, Central precocious puberty, Children, Granulosa cell tumor