The Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is responsible in both humans and animals for the growth and development of the germ cells that further morph into the gametes of the respective organisms. It takes part in the dynamics that achieve pubertal maturation and that properly shape the reproductive processes of the body. For this reason the FSH receptor, that is, the membrane receptor responsible for interacting with the FSH, which, by the way, is mainly produced by the anterior pituitary gland, is only to be found in the testicular Sertoli cells, the ovarian Granulosa cells, and in very small quantities in the endothelial cells of the ovary and the testis.

So, besides the Granulosa and Sertoli cells, and the inner layer of cells belonging to the blood vessels of ovaries and testis we shouldn’t find the FSH receptor anywhere else, right? Well, maybe not anywhere else that is not a precancerous tumor. In a new study British researchers proved that the FSH receptor could be used as a new cancer marker in order to detect the earliest forms of precancerous tumors which are the precursors to 11 types of cancer; this could mean that “radiation therapy” or “surgery” might soon become synonymous with “100% cancer cure” if early enough medical exams are undergone. Let’s follow the story!

British Researchers led by the Romanian Nicolae Ghinea, Ph.D., published in the 21 October Issue of The New England Journal of Medicine a new study that examined 1336 tumors of all grades of severity extracted from patients that presented risks or had already developed advanced forms of 11 types of cancer (prostate, breast, colon, pancreas, urinary bladder, kidney, lung, liver, stomach, testis and ovary).

They managed to prove that surrounding each and every tumor examined using three types of distinct techniques was a blood vessel fence whose endothelial cells contained significant quantities of FSH Receptors. Immunohistochemical analysis, immunoblotting, and in situ hybridization methods were used to identify the, approximately, 1mm thick layer of endothelial cells comprising the Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor. What is amazing is that the receptor was found in all grades of tumors belonging to 11 types of cancer, making it possible for future advanced imaging techniques to easily localize the earliest forms of precancerous tumors, which afterwards can easily be eliminated through radiation therapy, surgery, and, possibly, by simply blocking the FSH Receptor signaling through medication.

        An antibody is a gamma globulin protein that is used by the immune system to detect and cut up the viruses and bacteria that may circulate through blood stream in order to reach different parts of the body. Each and every antibody recognizes its specific target by first identifying its antigen, that is, a protein that is recognized by that antibody. Thus, the antigens of a certain kind will associate (bind) only with their specific antibodies.

In this present case, the FSH Receptor is the antigen. The immunohistochemical analysis is the process used by the researchers to detect the FST Receptor (the antigen) using the above mentioned rule, which says that each antibody will bind to its specific antigen. By supplying the tumorous tissue obtained from 1336 patients with a FSH Receptor antibody, the FSHR323, which was proven by the same researchers to be monospecific, or, to put it more specifically, to be designed to bind only with the FSH Receptor, the scientists observed strong staining (meaning they could observe the presence of FSH Receptors brought to contrast by the binding with the FSHR323 antibody) of a 1 mm thick layer of endothelial cells surrounding the specific cancerous tumor (Figure 1). Immunohistochemical analysis done with two other antibodies, the FSHR190 and the FSHR225, which bind with the FSH Receptor by different means proved similar staining of endothelial cells in all the tumors examined.

In order to further prove the above, scientists also used immunoblotting techniques and in situ hybridization on all the 1336 tumors. Immunoblotting is the technique of detecting the antigens by permitting them to adhere to cellulose sheets and then identifying them by observing through specific methods the staining brought about by their particular antibody. Researchers used two different antibodies for this technique, the FSHR323 and the FSHR18, which detect their specific antigen (the FSH Receptor) by different means. In all cases compelling evidence for the existence of the FSH Receptor was obtained from all specimens.

In situ hybridization is the attempt to by which two strands of DNA or RNA, one being the probe, the other being localized in the tissue of the tumor, are supposedly going to be brought together. If these two strands of nucleic acids are very similar to each other (i.e. they practicably describe the same recipe for the antigen) then they will bind with each other very fast. By observing the speed at which these strands of nucleic acids bind, scientists can make deductions about their similar characteristics. Using in situ hybridization scientists proved the existence of the FSH Receptor RNA in all the tumor tissues examined.

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