Expression of cytokines and receptors in normal, immortalized, and malignant ovarian epithelial cell lines.
BACKGROUND
Ovarian carcinoma originates from the epithelial cells on the surface of the ovary. This study evaluates cytokine production by these cells.


METHODS
Normal human ovary surface epithelial cells (HOSE cells), immortalized HOSE cells and ovarian cancer cells were used for the study of cytokines.


RESULTS
Eight of 14 cytokines were increased in > or = 3 ovarian cancer cell lines compared with normal HOSE cells. Three cytokines were increased 5-fold in the immortalized HOSE cell line and in multiple ovarian cancer cell lines. Cytokine receptor expression revealed that 7 of 8 ovarian cancer cell lines had > or = 1 autocrine loop. Anti-EGFR antibody failed to inhibit growth of ovarian cancer cells which expressed multiple cytokine receptors.


CONCLUSIONS
Ovarian cancer cells produce more cytokines than normal HOSE cells. Immortalized HOSE cells display a cytokine profile similar to the cancer cells. Finally, multiple autocrine loops in ovarian cancer may limit the therapeutic usefulness of single cytokine receptor blockade.
Bandera
Christina A
CA
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Harvard Center, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St., Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. cabandera@partners.org
Tsui
Hing Wo
HW
Mok
Samuel C
SC
Tsui
Florence W
FW
D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010053:Ovary / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000906:Antibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor