子宫内膜癌细胞系Ishikawa和HEC-1A细胞雌激素受体表达

目的研究子宫内膜癌细胞系Ishikawa和HEC-1A雌激素受体(ER)的表达情况。方法应用免疫细胞化学和逆转录酶-多聚酶链反应(RT-PCR)技术,检测Ishikawa和HEC-1A细胞中ERα、ERβ蛋白和mRNA表达水平。结果Ishikawa细胞中,ERα、ERβ蛋白均呈阳性表达,而在HEC-1A细胞中ERα呈弱阳性表达,ERβ阴性表达;Ishikawa细胞中ERα、ERβmRNA表达水平均显著高于HEC-1A细胞;(P<0.01)。结论Ishikawa细胞是ER阳性子宫内膜癌细胞系,而HEC-1A细胞则为ER低表达细胞系。     

UBE3C在雌激素促进子宫内膜癌细胞迁移及侵袭中的作用机制研究

目的:探讨泛素连接酶E3C(UBE3C)在雌激素(E_2)诱导子宫内膜癌细胞发生迁移、侵袭及上皮间质转化(EMT)过程中的作用。方法:免疫组化法检测子宫内膜癌组织中UBE3C表达情况。qRT-PCR及Western blot法检测UBE3C在子宫内膜癌细胞株、子宫内膜间质细胞株及正常子宫内膜上皮细胞中的表达。雌激素以浓度及时间梯度处理Ishikawa细胞,qRT-PCR及Western blot法检测UBE3C mRNA和蛋白表达。雌激素处理siNC或siUBE3C转染的Ishikawa细胞,划痕试验和Transwell侵袭实验检测细胞迁移、侵袭能力,Western blot法检测EMT相关蛋白E-cadherin、N-cadherin、snail及slug表达。结果:UBE3C在子宫内膜癌组织及细胞中高表达。雌激素能上调Ishikawa细胞UBE3C mRNA及蛋白表达,且在一定范围内呈剂量时间依赖性。雌激素刺激增强Ishikawa细胞的迁移、侵袭能力,促进EMT;si-UBE3C干扰能显著抑制上述作用,且能减弱雌激素对Ishikawa细胞迁移、侵袭能力的增强及EMT的促进。结论:UBE3C与雌激素能增强子宫内膜癌细胞的迁移、侵袭能力,促进上皮间质转化,UBE3C可能是雌激素下游重要的靶基因之一,介导雌激素诱导子宫内膜癌细胞的迁移、侵袭及上皮间质转化。     

ERRα过度表达对子宫内膜癌Ishikawa细胞内分泌治疗的影响

目的探讨孤儿受体-雌激素受体相关受体α（ERRα）在子宫内膜癌Ishikawa细胞中过度表达对内分泌治疗的影响。方法重组并构建含有绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）和G418耐药筛选标记的真核表达质粒pEGFP-N1-3FLAG-ERRα,瞬时转染子宫内膜癌细胞株Ishikawa后采用实时荧光定量PCR技术和蛋白印迹法检测ERRαmRNA和蛋白的表达情况。使用不同浓度的ICI182780处理子宫内膜癌Ishikawa细胞、Ishikawa-空载体细胞（Ishikawa-空）和ERRα过度表达的（Ishikawa-ERRα）细胞,流式细胞技术检测分析10-6mol/LICI182780对细胞诱导的凋亡情况。结果瞬时转染pEGFP-N1-ERRα质粒后,Ishikawa在mRNA和蛋白水平均能检测到ERRα的表达增加。流式细胞仪细胞凋亡分析表明,ERRα过度表达导致子宫内膜癌细胞Ishikawa耐受ICI182780的诱导凋亡作用（P〈0.05）。结论 ERRα过度表达为激素依赖性的子宫内膜癌细胞株Ishikawa提供了一种耐受内分泌治疗的机制。     

雌激素受体相关受体在妇科恶性肿瘤细胞株中的表达

目的 明确孤儿受体-雌激素受体相关受体ERR（estrogen receptor—related receptors，ERR）α、β、γ各亚型在子宫内膜癌细胞株，卵巢细胞株，乳腺癌细胞株中的表达情况。方法 采用定量PCR方法定性检测ERRs家族中各亚型的mRNA表达，采用Westston Blot印迹的方法检测雌激素受体相关受体ERR各亚型的表达。结果 实时荧光定量PCR分析及Western Blot蛋白印记检测显示子宫内膜癌细胞株、卵巢癌细胞株及乳腺癌细胞株中ERRα均有高水平表达；子宫内膜癌Hec11A、Hec-1B细胞和卵巢癌Mdah-2774、SKOV-3、OVCAR-3呈现ERRβ阳性表达；而ERRγ表达见于宫内膜癌Hec-1B、Ishikawa细胞，卵巢癌Mdah-2774、SKOV-3、OVCAR-3细胞和乳腺癌MCF-7细胞。结论ERRα和ERRγ在多种不同类型的恶性肿瘤细胞株中均有表达，而ERRβ的表达水平相对较低，本研究提供了ERR家族表达在细胞株中的表达模式。     

子宫内膜癌细胞雌激素受体亚型的调控和功能的初步研究

目的初步建立子宫内膜癌雌激素受体（ER）亚型α或β弱表达的细胞模型,研究雌激素及他莫昔芬（TAM）与ER亚型的关系。方法分别设计针对ERα和ERβ的反义寡脱氧核苷酸（ODN）、正义ODN、错义ODN,并转染子宫内膜癌细胞株Ishikawa,将Ishikawa细胞分为4组,即未转染组、反义ODN组、正义ODN组及错义ODN组。蛋白印迹法测定转染后细胞ERα和ERβ蛋白的表达;四甲基偶氮唑蓝（MTT）法检测转染ODN后,17β雌二醇和TAM对Ishikawa细胞生长的影响。结果（1）分别针对ERα及ERβ的反义ODN可以选择性下调转染的Ishikawa细胞中ERα及ERβ蛋白的表达（分别下调45％和54％）。（2）17β雌二醇及TAM可以促进未转染组Ishikawa细胞的生长。转染ERα反义ODN后,可抑制17β雌二醇及TAM对Ishikawa细胞的促生长作用,以转染后的24、48及72h为著,反义ODN组各时间点分别与未转染、正义ODN、错义ODN组比较,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。（3）转染ERβ反义ODN后,17β雌二醇对Ishikawa细胞的促生长作用的改变不明显。转染ERβ反义ODN可抑制TAM对Ishikawa细胞的促生长作用,以转染后72h为著,反义ODN组分别与未转染、正义ODN、错义ODN组比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论（1）反义核酸技术能够特异性地有效下调Ishikawa细胞中ERα和ERβ蛋白的表达,其可作为子宫内膜癌细胞中ER调控的一种有效的实验手段。（2）17β雌二醇促进子宫内膜癌细胞生长的作用主要通过ERβ介导;ERβ和ERβ均参与TAM促进子宫内膜癌细胞生长的作用。     

三苯氧胺对人子宫内膜癌细胞系Ishikawa细胞增殖的影响

目的:探讨三苯氧胺(TAM)在体外对Ishikawa人子宫内膜癌细胞株增殖的影响及其作用机制。方法:采用MTT法观察不同浓度TAM作用不同时间对Ishikawa细胞增殖的影响,另应用MTT法、流式细胞术、免疫细胞化学方法观察比较TAM、17β-雌二醇(17β-E2)及两者联合作用不同时间后对Ishikawa细胞增殖率,细胞周期时相分布以及C-myc、bcl-2、Bax 3种蛋白表达的影响。结果:TAM对Ishikawa细胞的促增殖作用在一定剂量范围内有浓度依赖性,可使G0/G1期细胞比例下降,S期细胞比例升高;C-myc、bcl-2蛋白表达增加,Bax蛋白表达下降。结论:体外TAM可能通过调节细胞周期时相分布及上调C-myc蛋白、bcl-2蛋白,下调Bax蛋白表达,促进Ishikawa人子宫内膜癌细胞增殖。     

Neuropilin-1在子宫内膜癌细胞系中的表达及17β雌二醇对其表达的调控及意义

目的:探讨神经纤毛蛋白(NRP-1)在子宫内膜癌细胞系中的表达及17β雌二醇(17β-E2)对其表达的调控。方法:采用RT-PCR法及Western blot法检测NRP-1在子宫内膜癌HEC-1A及Ishikawa细胞系中的表达;荧光定量PCR法检测17β-E2对HEC-1A及Ishikawa细胞系中NRP-1 mRNA表达的调控;Western blot法检测Ishikawa细胞中NRP-1表达的变化。结果:HEC-1A及Ishikawa细胞中NRP-1 mRNA及蛋白水平均为阳性表达。17β-E2对Ishikawa细胞系中NRP-1 mRNA表达的影响显著强于HEC-1A,且17β-E2浓度为2×10-7mol/L,作用时间48h时对NRP-1 mRNA表达的促进作用最明显。17β-E2对Ishikawa细胞中NRP-1蛋白表达呈时间依赖性。结论:NRP-1表达于高表达雌激素受体(ER)细胞系Ishikawa及低表达ER细胞系HEC-1A中,且2×10-7mol/l E2作用48h能明显促进Ishikawa细胞系中NRP-1的表达,提示NRP-1可能与子宫内膜癌的发生发展密切相关。     

LncRNA PSMA3-AS1靶向miR-329-3p基因调控子宫内膜癌细胞增殖、迁移、侵袭

目的 探讨LncRNA PSMA3-AS1对子宫内膜癌细胞增殖、迁移、侵袭的影响及分子机制。方法 收集内蒙古自治区人民医院38例子宫内膜癌患者癌组织及癌旁组织,培养正常子宫内膜上皮细胞hEEC及子宫内膜癌细胞系Ishikawa、HEC-1A、AN3CA,RT-qPCR检测RNA水平;将Ishikawa细胞分为NC组、si-LncRNA PSMA3-AS1组、si-NC组、miR-329-3p组、miR-NC组、anti-miR-329-3p+si-LncRNA PSMA3-AS1组和anti-miR-329-3p+si-NC组;Transwell检测细胞迁移和侵袭;Western blot法检测蛋白表达;CCK-8法检测细胞活性;双荧光素酶报告实验分析荧光素酶活性。结果 与癌旁组织比较,子宫内膜癌组织中miR-329-3p表达水平降低,LncRNA PSMA3-AS1表达水平升高（P <0.05）。与hEEC细胞比较,子宫内膜癌细胞系Ishikawa、HEC-1A、AN3CA中miR-329-3p表达水平降低,LncRNA PSMA3-AS1表达水平升高（P <0.05）。...     

雌激素膜受体GPR30在子宫内膜癌的表达及意义

目的:探讨雌激素膜受体GPR30在子宫内膜癌的表达及意义。方法:RT-PCR和免疫组织化学法检测子宫内膜癌组织和正常子宫内膜组织中GPR30mRNA和蛋白的表达,分析GPR30表达与临床病理的联系;免疫细胞化学分析GPR30蛋白在子宫内膜癌细胞系RL95-2(ER+)和KLE(ER-)的表达。结果:子宫内膜癌组织GPR30mRNA的表达水平显著高于正常子宫内膜组织(P<0.05);子宫内膜癌组织GPR30蛋白表达阳性率(21/30,70%)显著高于正常子宫内膜组织(5/17,29.41%)(χ2=7.232,P=0.007);肿瘤组织学分级越高,GPR30表达阳性率越高(P=0.003),GPR30表达与内膜癌分期、肌层浸润深度和腹水转移无关(P>0.05);ERα阳性的子宫内膜癌细胞系RL95-2和ERα阴性的细胞系KLE均表达GPR30。结论:雌激素膜受体GPR30于子宫内膜癌组织和子宫内膜癌细胞系均有表达,与肿瘤组织学高分级相关,提示GPR30可能在子宫内膜癌中发挥重要的作用。     

EGFR过表达对子宫内膜癌细胞上皮间质转化的影响

目的:探讨表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)过表达对子宫内膜癌细胞上皮间质转化(EMT)的影响。方法:选取子宫内膜癌Ishikawa及KLE细胞株,利用脂质体将携带EGFR基因的质粒转染到Ishikawa细胞株建立EGFR过表达的Ishikawa细胞株,应用RT-PCR、Western blot检测上述3种细胞中EMT相关指标E-cadherin、α-catenin、N-cadherin、Vimentin的表达量。结果:低分化、高侵袭性的KLE细胞中EGFR呈高表达,且KLE细胞中上皮标志物E-cadherin和α-catenin的蛋白表达量均低于Ishikawa细胞(P<0.01),间质标志物N-cadherin和Vimentin的蛋白表达量则高于Ishikawa细胞(P<0.01),EGFR过表达处理后,Ishikawa细胞E-cadherin、α-catenin mRNA及蛋白表达量均显著降低(P<0.01),N-cadherin、Vimentin mRNA及蛋白表达量则显著升高(P<0.01)。结论:EGFR过表达引起子宫内膜癌细胞发生上皮间质转化。     

Stromal cell-derived factor 1alpha stimulates human endometrial carcinoma cell growth through the activation of both extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and Akt

OBJECTIVE: The aim of study was to investigate the proliferative effects of stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha) on endometrial carcinomas cell lines with different estrogen receptors (ER) and PTEN protein profiles. METHODS: MTT assays was used to detect the proliferation of HEC-1A and Ishikawa cells, and Western blotted analysis was used to detect activation of Akt and ERK1/2 in both cell lines after exposure to various concentrations of SDF-1alpha, MAPK-specific inhibitor PD98059 or PI3K-specific inhibitor LY294002. RESULTS: Low concentrations of SDF-1alpha (50 ng/ml) induced proliferation in both cell lines. ERK1/2 was significantly activated for more than 2 h by SDF-1alpha at 20 ng/ml in HEC-1A cells, but not in Ishikawa cells. In contrast, Akt was significantly activated for over 2 h in Ishikawa cells but remained unchanged in HEC-1A cells. High concentrations of SDF-1alpha activated Akt and ERK1/2 pathways in both cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, which was primarily inhibited by LY294002 for pAkt and by PD98059 for pERK 1/2. CONCLUSIONS: SDF-1alpha could stimulate the cell proliferation of endometrial carcinoma with different expression status of ER and PTEN in vitro, likely through the activation of both Akt and ERK1/2 signaling pathways.     

与雌、孕激素受体相关的微小RNA在Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型子宫内膜癌中的差异表达

目的 探讨与雌激素受体α(Erα)和孕激素受体(PR)表达相关的微小RNA(microRNA,miRNA)在Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型内膜癌中的差异表达.方法 通过对两种细胞系Ishikawa和KLE细胞的裸鼠移植瘤组织进行病理形态学观察、免疫组化法检测其Erα、PR和p53蛋白的表达以及活细胞计数(CCK-8)法检测雌、孕激素作用后Ishikawa和KLE细胞的生长情况,对Ishikawa和KLE细胞进行组织学分型及鉴定;对无雌、孕激素环境下培养的lshikawa和KLE细胞,用miRNA微阵列芯片筛选Ishikawa和KLE中差异表达的miRNA;用miRANDA和TargetScan软件结合芯片筛选结果,预测Ishikawa和KLE细胞中可能以ESRI(翻译产物为Erα蛋白)和PGR(翻译产物为PR蛋白)为靶基因的miRNA;用实时荧光定量PCR技术验证在体内和体外培养的lshikawa和KLE细胞中以及10例内膜癌患者癌组织标本中其表达的差异性.结果 经组织学分型及鉴定显示,lshikawa细胞来源于Ⅰ型内膜癌,KLE细胞来源于Ⅱ型内膜癌;miRNA微阵列芯片筛选出Ishikawa和KLE细胞中差异表达的miRNA共126个;可能以ESRI为靶基因的miRNA为has-miR-99a与has-miR-100,可能以PGR为靶基因的miRNA为has-miR-378与has-miR-768-3p;实时荧光定量PCR技术验证显示,has-miR-100、99a、378、768-3p在体外和体内培养的Ishikawa和KLE细胞中的差异表达与miRNA微阵列芯片筛选的结果是一致的;Ⅰ型内膜癌组织中has-miR-100的表达明显低于Ⅱ型内膜癌组织(P＜0.01).结论 has-miR-100在Ⅱ型内膜癌组织中的表达明显高于Ⅰ型内膜癌,其靶基因可能为ESR1.     

Epidermal growth factor receptor signaling enhanced by long-term medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment in endometrial carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: Progestin is an effective endocrine treatment for patients with atypical hyperplasia or with endometrial carcinoma that is estrogen receptor (ER) positive and progesterone receptor (PR) positive. However, long-term progestin treatment may lead to resistance. We have studied the progestin resistance phenotype that frequently develops in endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: Ishikawa endometrial carcinoma cells were cultured for a long period (10 months) in the presence of the synthetic progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), thereby generating a subline refractory to the growth-suppressive effects of MPA. RESULTS: The MPA-resistant subline showed growth stimulation rather than inhibition after MPA treatment. Immunocytochemical analysis showed reduced ER alpha and PR-B expression and increased ER beta expression in this subline compared with parental Ishikawa cells. Progestin-resistant Ishikawa cells also showed increased expression of transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha), the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and EGFR tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK); MPA treatment further stimulated the expression of TGFalpha in these cells. Additionally, progestin-resistant Ishikawa cells were highly sensitive to growth stimulation by TGFalpha and to growth inhibition by the EGFR-TK-specific inhibitor AG1478, and they showed increased dependence on TGFalpha-EGFR signaling. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that prolonged treatment of endometrial carcinoma cells with MPA induces resistance to the growth-suppressive effects of MPA and enhances cancer cell proliferation. The downregulation of ER alpha and PR-B, the upregulation of ER beta, and highly activated TGF-EGFR signaling are thus likely to contribute to progestin resistance in endometrial carcinoma. Therefore, an EGFR-TK-specific inhibitor might be useful in the treatment of progestin-resistant endometrial carcinoma.     

雌激素受体相关受体α过度表达对雌激素受体阴性的子宫内膜癌细胞增殖的影响

目的探讨雌激素受体相关受体α（ERRα）在雌激素受体（ER）阴性及阳性的子宫内膜癌细胞中的作用。方法 将真核表达质粒pSG—ERRα（0．5、1．0、1．5、2．5μg）瞬时转染子宫内膜癌细胞株HEC-1A（ER阴性）、HEC-1B（ER阴性）、Ishikawa（ER阳性）,采用定量RT-PCR技术和蛋白印迹法（westernblot）检测ERRα mRNA和蛋白的表达情况;采用流式细胞仪分析细胞周期,并计数细胞的增殖情况。结果 转染pSG—ERRα质粒后,HEC-1A、HEC-1B、Ishikawa细胞在mRNA和蛋白水平均能检测到ERRet的表达增加。HEC-1B、HEC-1A、Ishikawa细胞未转染时ERRα mRNA的表达水平分别为2104．2、2870．6、1476．8copies／ng,转染后3者ERRα mRNA的表达水平分别为9835．3、9644．4、8008．6copies／ng,分别与各自未转染的细胞比较,差异均有统计学意义（P值分别为0．004、0．002、0．002）。HEC-1A、HEC-1B、Ishikawa细胞未转染时ERRα蛋白的表达水平分别为0．823、0．192、0．673,转染后3者ERRα蛋白的表达水平分别为1．128、1．104、1．008,分别与各自未转染的细胞比较,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。随着转染pSG—ERRα质粒质量的增加,HEC-1A、HEC-1B细胞的S期和G2／M期细胞比例明显上升（P〈0．01）。HEC-1B、HEC-1A细胞转染0．5、1．0μg pSG-ERRα质粒后,细胞在转染后24—96h间生长速度显著加快（P〈0．05）。结论ERRα过度表达是ER阴性的子宫内膜癌细胞株HEC-1A、HEC-1B的一种细胞增殖机制。     

雌激素与三苯氧胺对子宫内膜癌细胞bcl-2 mRNA水平的调节

目的　探讨雌激素与三苯氧胺对子宫内膜癌ｂｃｌ２ 癌基因的调节机理。方法　采用逆转录－ 聚合酶链反应（ＲＴＰＣＲ） 法,检测子宫内膜癌细胞雌激素受体（ＥＲ） 阳性ＲＬ９５２ 细胞中ｂｃｌ２ｍＲＮＡ表达水平,及其与雌激素和三苯氧胺作用后的变化。结果　ＥＲ阳性ＲＬ９５２ 细胞有ｂｃｌ２ ｍＲＮＡ表达。经１０－１２ 、１０－１０ 、１０－８ 、１０－７ ｍｏｌ／Ｌ１７β雌二醇（Ｅ２）与ＲＬ９５２ 细胞作用７２ 小时后,ｂｃｌ２ 与βａｃｔｉｎｍＲＮＡ的比值分别为６．９４ ±０．０３、７ ．１５ ±０ ．０２、７．４７ ±０．０１、８．４４ ±０ ．０１ ,呈逐渐升高趋势;经１０－８ 、１０－７ 、１０－ ６、１０－５ ｍｏｌ／Ｌ三苯氧胺与ＲＬ９５２ 细胞作用７２ 小时后,ｂｃｌ２ 与βａｃｔｉｎ ｍＲＮＡ 的比值分别为３ ．６２±０．０３ 、２ ．８７ ±０．０１、２．２３±０ ．０１、１ ．９８ ±０ ．０２,呈逐渐下降趋势。结论　雌激素可通过促进ｂｃｌ２的表达,抑制细胞凋亡,在ＥＲ阳性的子宫内膜癌发病中起了一定作用;三苯氧胺则降低ｂｃｌ２ 的表达水平,促进细胞凋亡,可能产生治疗子宫内膜癌的效应。     

Hypoxia contributes to development of recurrent endometrial carcinoma

Tumor hypoxia can trigger the induction of angiogenesis. High microvessel density (MVD) as well as hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) have been related to recurrent disease and tumor aggressiveness, respectively. In this study, MVD and hypoxic status were investigated in primary and recurrent endometrial carcinomas. A total of 65 primary tumors of patients with recurrent endometrial carcinoma (n = 40), and without recurrent endometrial carcinoma (n = 25) were studied. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on paraffin-embedded tumor tissue. MVD was determined by quantitative analysis of CD31/FVIII positive vessels. Tumor hypoxia was estimated by evaluating the expression of the hypoxia-regulated gene HIF-1alphaand its target gene carbonic anhydrase IX (CA-IX). An additional 23 recurrent tumors were available for determination of MVD and HIF-1alpha expression. Effects of hypoxia on tumor protein p53 (TP53) expression were evaluated in the endometrial cancer cell lines (ECC-1), Ishikawa (derived from adenocarcinomas), and AN3CA (derived from a lymph node metastasis). MVD, CA-IX, and HIF-1alpha expression were not significantly different in primary tumors of patients with recurrence compared to the control tumors. The MVD was significantly lower, and HIF-1alpha expression was significantly higher in recurrent tumors when compared with their primary tumors (paired t test, P < 0.05). HIF-1alpha expression correlated well with TP53 expression levels in primary tumors, but not in recurrences. TP53 protein levels were highest in AN3CA cells. Hypoxic conditions induced TP53 protein in ECC-1 and Ishikawa, but not AN3CA cells. We conclude that MVD, CA-IX, and HIF-1alpha expression are not independent prognostic markers for recurrent endometrial carcinoma. The low MVD, increased HIF-1alpha protein levels, dissociation of hypoxia, and TP53 protein induction in the metastatic tumor cells (AN3CA) support a role for hypoxia in the development of recurrent endometrial carcinoma.     

Invasiveness corresponds to differentiation rather than to proteinase secretion in endometrial cancer cell lines

Local invasiveness is an important prognostic factor in endometrial carcinoma. To study the role of two groups of secreted proteinases (serine proteinases and matrix metalloproteinases) in this process, we examined three endometrial cancer cell lines (Ishikawa HEC 1A, AN3CA) for their invasiveness in vitro. Additionally, we considered the secretion of urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and 2 (PAI-1 and PAI-2), as well as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 1, 2, 3, and 9, and their inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. Compared to the highly invasive fibrosarcoma cell line HT 1080, Ishikawa displayed low and AN3CA moderate invasiveness, while HEC 1A cells were almost as invasive as HT 1080 cells. Ishikawa cells secreted the highest amounts of proteinases. Cytokine and steroid treatments upregulated MMP-1 in all cell lines while the effects were heterogeneous regarding other proteinases and inhibitors. No effect of these treatments on invasiveness could be detected. Both basal secretion and regulation of the proteinases tested in this set of experiments seem to be markers of differentiation rather than of invasiveness.