Differential expression of the cell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin in ascites and solid human ovarian tumor cells.
Advanced ovarian cancers contain 2 distinct phenotypic populations: (a) free-floating tumor cells in the ascitic fluid and (b) solid tumors. Ascites cells are derived from the solid tumors and spread throughout the peritoneum. Changes in cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions are thought to be responsible for the origin of ascites cells. Since E-cadherin molecules play a crucial role in the cell-cell interactions in epithelial cells, we investigated the expression of E-cadherin in these 2 phenotypic populations. Paired samples of ascites and solid tumors were obtained from patients. Both primary tumors and tumor cells isolated from an experimental model showed a marked decrease in E-cadherin expression in the ascites cells compared to the respective solid tumors. Semi-quantitative, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the steady-state levels of E-cadherin-specific mRNA. Results indicate that the primary tumors had significantly lower levels of E-cadherin transcript in ascites cells when compared to their solid tumor counterparts. Changes in E-cadherin expression were also reflected in the invasion capacity of tumor cells in vitro. Ascites cells were 4-fold more invasive then solid tumor cells, suggesting that ascites cells are a highly malignant phenotype.
Veatch
A L
AL
Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.
Carson
L F
LF
Ramakrishnan
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001483:Base Sequence; D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D015820:Cadherins; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase