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. MATERIALS AND 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. CONCLUSION: 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.